A tragic accident in Cambodia’s Kandal province claimed the lives of five schoolgirls after a bus carrying students lost control and plunged into a deep roadside pond on Tuesday morning.
According to provincial police, the incident occurred around 40 kilometres north of the capital, Phnom Penh. Witnesses said a motorcycle suddenly came in front of the speeding bus, forcing the driver to brake sharply. The vehicle subsequently skidded off the road and landed in the water.
There were 26 students, aged between 12 and 14, travelling on the bus. Five girls drowned, while three other students sustained critical injuries and 18 suffered minor injuries.
Local residents rushed to the scene and attempted to pull the children out of the submerged vehicle. Some of the rescued students were given CPR, according to a local witness. Police have detained the 31-year-old bus driver for questioning.
District traffic police chief Nov Sokhon said the timely intervention of villagers helped prevent further fatalities.
The accident comes amid continuing road safety concerns in Cambodia. More than 1,300 people died in traffic accidents during the first ten months of this year, while 1,467 fatalities were recorded in 2025, according to official reports.
