via CAAI
2010-11-25
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen weeps openly at a ceremony to pay tribute to the hundreds who were killed in a stampede on Monday.
At least 456 people were killed on the last day of a water festival in the capital Phnom Penh, when thousands panicked as they tried to cross a suspension bridge.
The Prime Minister's advisor said the accident was triggered when the bridge started to sway.
[Om Yentieng, Prime Minister’s Advisor]:
"According to the investigation we have, the victims told us that there were people pushing first. When it became chaos, the bridge started shaking. Some people shouted 'don't panic' otherwise the bridge might collapse. The bridge shaking did not happen before the chaos. This is what we heard from witnesses and victims."
Hundreds were also injured in the stampede.
One woman described how her grandson ended up in hospital.
[Toun Sokhun, Survivor’s Grandmother]:
"Those who fell down tried to grab his neck. He is lucky that his uncle pulled him out. So he survived and his uncle tried to save his wife, but she died as soon as her body was pulled out."
While critics have pointed fingers at developers who built the bridge, and city authorities organizing the festival, they say the government is ultimately responsible.
However, analysts say the disaster is unlikely to damage Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power for the last quarter of a century.
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