Tragic Bus Accident Claims Lives of Five Cambodian Schoolgirls

Devastating Incident in Khsach Kandal

Khsach Kandal (Cambodia): On Tuesday morning, a tragic accident occurred in Cambodia, resulting in the deaths of five schoolgirls when their bus veered off the road and fell into a pond, according to police reports.

The incident took place in Kandal province, located approximately 40 kilometers north of Phnom Penh, the capital. A statement from provincial police shared on social media indicated that the bus driver lost control after a motorcycle unexpectedly crossed its path, prompting an emergency brake that led to the bus skidding into the water.

Footage circulating online depicted the bus submerged just a short distance from the shore, complicating rescue efforts despite the swift response from local villagers who attempted to save the children. Sun Kunthy, a rescuer, mentioned that CPR was administered to some of the children who were pulled from the bus.

There were 26 students on board, aged between 12 and 14. Alongside the five fatalities, three others sustained critical injuries, while 18 experienced minor injuries.

Authorities have detained the 31-year-old bus driver for further investigation.

Nov Sokhon, the chief traffic officer for Khsach Kandal district, confirmed that all five girls drowned. He noted that the situation could have been worse had local residents not intervened promptly.

A report from the National Police indicated that over 1,300 fatalities from traffic accidents were recorded in Cambodia during the first ten months of this year.

Additionally, the Transport Ministry reported that 1,467 individuals lost their lives in traffic-related incidents in 2025, marking it as the leading cause of accidental deaths in the country.

Earlier this year, two separate accidents resulted in the deaths of at least 14 garment factory workers and injuries to 79 others, primarily women, who were being transported on flatbed trucks—an unsafe mode of transport that often lacks proper seating, increasing the risk of serious injuries or fatalities during crashes.