A devastating bus accident occurred in Cambodia early Thursday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 passengers and injuring 24 others. The incident took place in Kampong Thom province when the bus, en route from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, veered off a bridge and plunged into a river. Deputy Police Chief Siv Sovanna confirmed that all passengers were Cambodian nationals. Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver may have fallen asleep during the journey, which typically lasts around five and a half hours. It remains unclear whether the driver was among the fatalities. Approximately 40 passengers were believed to be on board, and rescue efforts continued throughout the day to locate any additional victims. The deceased were transported to a nearby hospital to await identification and collection by their families. This tragedy adds to Cambodia’s alarming traffic fatality statistics, with 1,509 deaths recorded in 2024 and 1,062 in the first nine months of 2025, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
A night bus from Cambodia’s top tourist destination plunges off a bridge, killing 13 passengers
