熱波で弾薬爆発か、兵士２０人死亡 カンボジア国防省

【プノンペンＡＦＰ＝時事】カンボジア南西部のコンポンスプー州の軍施設で先月２７日、弾薬が爆発し、兵士２０人が死亡する事故があった。国防省は２日、熱波に伴う高気温が爆発の原因だとの見方を示した。（写真は、カンボジア・コンポンスプー州で、弾薬の爆発で全壊した倉庫）
　爆発により弾薬を積んだトラックが全壊したほか、建物数棟が損壊。兵士２０人が死亡し、数人が負傷した。近隣の民家も２５棟が損傷を受け、少なくとも子ども１人がけがを負った。
　国防省は声明で、「弾薬は古いもので、欠陥品だった。加えて高気温に見舞われていた」と指摘。ただ、高気温が爆発につながったことの詳細な説明は示されていない。
　声明は、爆発は一部兵士による反逆的な行為やテロ行為によるものとの見方は否定した。
　カンボジアを含む東南アジア一帯はここ数週間、熱波に見舞われている。当局は４月２８日、一部地域では気温が４３度に達する可能性もあると予想していた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/05/02-17:18）

Cambodia's defence ministry said Thursday a blistering heatwave roiling Southeast Asia played a role in an ammunition explosion that killed 20 soldiers at an army base over the weekend.
The blast -- which destroyed an entire truck of munitions and levelled buildings -- also wounded several soldiers and at least one child in rural Kampong Speu province on Saturday.
The defence ministry said Thursday that investigators believed the heatwave played a role in the old weapons detonating.
The incident of the ammunition explosion on April 27, 2024... was a technical issue because the weapons are old, faulty, and the hot weather, the ministry said in a statement.
It did not explain the specific issue or how the heat may have contributed to the explosion.
The ministry also rejected suggestions that the blast was down to rebellious soldiers or an act of terrorism.
Deadly munitions accidents are not uncommon in Cambodia, which is awash with ammunition, mines and unexploded ordnance leftover from decades of civil conflict.
Such incidents are exacerbated by frequently lax safety standards.
Like much of South and Southeast Asia, Cambodia has been struggling with hot weather in recent weeks.
Authorities warned on Sunday that temperatures could reach 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas, although rain and cooler weather were forecast in the coming days.
Following the blast west of the capital Phnom Penh, images posted on social media showed a destroyed one-story building wreathed in smoke, with residents of a nearby village also sharing images online of broken windows.
Other photos showed what appeared to be civilians, including a young child in a diaper, with cuts and gashes being treated in hospital.
An office building and nearby barracks were destroyed, and 25 nearby homes were also damaged.
Prime Minister Hun Manet said the families of those killed would receive roughly $20,000 each, while injured soldiers would get $5,000.