On May 16th, a lightning strike occurred at the famous Angkor Wat ruins in Cambodia, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to many others. Concerned about the impact on tourism, the Cambodian authorities did not initially release relevant information. However, on May 19th, an unnamed official disclosed that there were indeed fatalities due to the lightning strike.
According to reports from the Associated Press, on the afternoon of the 16th, when Angkor Wat was struck by lightning, people were seeking shelter near the main temples.
Videos circulated on social media by netizens showed two ambulances arriving at the scene after the incident. Bystanders and Angkor Wat officials carried out the injured and assisted others in walking away. Other footage showed several individuals receiving treatment at a hospital.
The day following the lightning strike, the Cambodian Minister of Tourism issued a statement urging people to delete social media posts related to the incident, stating that spreading “negative news” could harm Cambodia’s tourism industry. However, an anonymous official confirmed to the Associated Press that all three people who lost their lives in the lightning strike were Cambodian citizens.
Source: NTD News.