(Posted by CAAI News Media)
PHNOM PENH, Nov 03, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- One boat racer drowned during the second day of the annual Water Festival boat racing in front of the Royal Palace of Cambodia when their boat sank, said a Phnom Penh municipal police officer on Tuesday.
The boat with 76 racers from Kampong Chham sank on Monday afternoon, said the officer who asked not to be named. All the other racers escaped safely. Only the man identified as Tea, from Koh Soten in Kampong Chham was killed. The sunken racing boat was identified as Meas Srey Pich (The Golden Lady Diamond). The body was recovered downstream near Koh Pich island. This is the first fatality this year.
Nearly 400 boats with more than 25,000 boat racers from various parts of the country participated in the annual water festival lasted for three days from Nov. 1 to 3.
Cambodia's boat races or water festival is a three-day event crediting Cambodia's strong armed forces in defeating enemies by using boats.
Every year, millions of Cambodians are coming from across the country and are flocking to Phnom Penh to view and enjoy the boat races. Besides the boat racing, the three-day celebrations include fireworks, moonprayers and illuminated boats with ministry and royal emblems.
The 1,700-meter race is held on the Mekong River in the capital in front of the Royal Palace.
King Norodom Sihamoni, accompanied by the government leaders, including Prime Minister Hun Sen and members of the foreign diplomatic corps, watched the boat racing on the first day of the festival celebrations.
With water levels much higher in rivers across the Kingdom this year due to the storms, racers could face greater danger than in years past.
In 2007, five Singaporean racers drowned when their 22-crow member dragon boat capsized during that year's all-ASEAN festival races. Chea Sokhom, secretary general of the National and International Festival Committee, said he had advised racers to be particularly cautious during this year's competition.
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