Today we woke up to a very somber Phnom Penh.

The whole country is mourning the tragic death of hundreds of people during a stampede that broke out on Monday night. It was the last hour of the last day of what should have been a happy celebration of the Water Festival. More than 300 people were dead and 500 injured when a stampede broke out at a bridge in Koh Pich (Diamond Island), a spit of reclaimed land in the river and developed by a private company.


What a terrible way to end the festivities and an awful news to wake up to. By now you will find lots of sources online, but you can find a story here, and an eye-witness account here. Please spare a few minutes of your time and join us in offering prayers for the dead and the survivors, as well as for their families and relatives to get through this difficult time.

The Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called the stampede the "biggest tragedy" to strike Cambodia since the Khmer Rouge reign in the 19070s and he also ordered the immediate investigation of the incident. There was confusion as to how the stampede started but, quoting a Khmerican friend's note in his Facebook wall, what credible sources are saying is that some type of event created a "panic" on the newly-built bridge. What kind of event, this we are hoping the query will yield the answers. The PM also declared Thursday a National Mourning Day and he ordered all government offices and agencies to display its flags on half-staff. To those who have internet and are interested in following the story, please visit http://www.khmerlive.tv/ for live feeds and updates from various TV channels in Phnom Penh.

It was difficult for me to look at the pictures available online, but if you are up to it, here are some pictures that were taken on  that fateful night. I fervently hope that the culprits will be punished, that lessons will be learned so that incidents like this will never happen again. Ever.

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Here is also a link to a Facebook page containing resources for hotlines, ways to help victims of the Cambodia stampede compiled by Phatry Derek Pan: http://www.facebook.com/notes/phatry-derek-pan/resources-public-gatherings-hotlines-ways-to-help-victims-of-cambodia-stampede/467610744905