2 days ago
14 Thai civilians dead, 2,000 Cambodians flee homes
Fourteen Thai civilians have been killed and 31 injured in ongoing border clashes with Cambodia, according to the Special Operations Centre for Thai-Cambodian Border Situations Management (SOC-TCBSM).
Rear Admiral Surasan Kongsiri, spokesperson for the centre, said yesterday that as of 9am, a total of 45 Thai civilians had been affected -- including 14 fatalities, seven critically injured, 13 moderately injured, and 11 with minor injuries.
Authorities continue to urge residents on both sides of the border to evacuate for their safety, he added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health reported that at least seven hospitals have been forced to fully close due to safety concerns arising from the clashes.
According to the ministry's latest update, 11 hospitals across four provinces -- Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Buri Ram -- have been affected by the military conflict, with seven ordered to shut down entirely.
These include Nam Khun Hospital and Nam Yuen Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani; Kantharalak Hospital and Bhu Sing Hospital in Si Sa Ket; Kap Choeng Hospital and Phanom Dongrak Hospital in Surin; and Ban Kruat Hospital in Buri Ram.
Four other hospitals have been partially closed. They are Nachaluai Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani, which is only operating its emergency room; Prasat Hospital and Sangkha Hospital in Surin; and Prakhon Chai Hospital in Buri Ram.
The ministry reported that 429 patients have already been transferred to safer facilities, while more than 83,170 people have been evacuated from at-risk areas.
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin has ordered the establishment of a Public Health Emergency Operations Centre to closely monitor the situation. The centre will assess hospital closures in high-risk zones and coordinate logistics for transferring patients to safer hospitals within the province or nearby areas.
He also ordered the creation of emergency response units, the stockpiling of medical supplies, and close coordination with security officials to ensure an immediate response to the unfolding crisis.
More than 2,000 Cambodian nationals crossed back into their country via the Ban Laem permanent checkpoint in Pong Nam Ron district of Chanthaburi yesterday, following renewed clashes along the border.
