Latest news with #SiemReap
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Woman who burned 40 per cent of her body in petrol station fireball reveals what she looks like six years later
An American woman has revealed her miraculous recovery from a horror gas station explosion almost six years ago after the accident led to 40 per cent of her body being covered in third-degree burns. Abigail Alexander, from Ohio, was just 18 when she and a British friend were caught up in the blast while riding a motorcycle together in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The young women, who were teaching in the country at the time, were almost killed when a fuel station burst into flames as they made their way to work. A tanker truck carrying 440 gallons of petrol had ignited while delivering the fuel to a storage tank, injuring 13 people, including Abbey and 22-year-old Zoe Eleftheriou from Medway, Kent. Shocking pictures showed Abigail's body covered in bandages and severe burns in the aftermath of the explosion in August 2019. Since then, Abbey, now 23, has been documenting her physical transformation on her social media platforms as well as Reddit 's 'Made Me Smile' channel and recently shared her latest photographs taken nearly six years after the life-altering accident. 'Almost six years post burn!!' she triumphantly captioned her post, which included six photos that showed how far she'd come from 2019, when she was rushed to hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries. The first snap showed Abbey wrapped up in bandages while trying to walk with the help of a doctor while the second image depicted her lying in a hospital bed while hooked up to an IV pole. Her hair is cut short and her face - covered with burns - is visible. Abbey, who has been praised for her positive attitude and sense of humour despite the tragedy, also posted a selfie taken in hospital hat showed her bravely smiling through her treatment. She posed in a black swimsuit and pair of denim shorts in the fourth photo that showed scarring on her arms and legs as Abbey held up a fish she presumably caught while on holiday. Abbey included a snap of her firstborn after she and her partner, Austin Michael, welcomed their baby daughter last November. The sixth and final photo was a selfie that showed Abbey had minimal facial scarring, as her caption read: 'On a Reddit kick tonight and decided to post my yearly update to my favourite subreddit [MadeMeSmile]'. Her heartwarming post led to a flurry of comments as Reddit users celebrated how far she'd come from the accident in Cambodia in 2019, with one person writing she looked 'amazing'. 'Are you the one that was on a moped in Cambodia and a gas station exploded that you were driving past?! If so omg you look amazing!' their message read. A critical care nurse with experience treating large surface area burns said: 'We never get to see this. 'When we send patients out of the [Intensive Care Unit], they still look like you did in the first picture. 'We take care of them for months sometimes, then they move onto the next level of care. I almost didn't look at your pictures, but I'm glad it did. It warmed my heart a bit.' Social media users praised her as an 'absolute legend' and an 'effing warrior' in the comments section, with one person noting: 'Some of the toughest people have never battled what you have and come out the better.' Speaking to MailOnline in 2023, Abbey reflected on her recovery as she declared 'I didn't only manage to survive, I thrived'. Recalling the events of August 14, 2019, Abbey said she and her colleague Zoe were 'instantly burned' in the inferno before she was 'ran over by a car'. The British and American teachers were the only foreigners injured in the blast, which also seriously wounded 11 locals. Both women's families faced huge medical bills and they had to receive treatment before being able to return home. Abbey said she knew the road to recovery would be long and difficult after doctors told her nearly half her body was covered in third-degree burns - a prognosis that could be fatal if not treated properly. Unfortunately, her early recovery in Cambodia did not go as smoothly as might be hoped. The first clinic she went to put her in ice water, which she says she has since learned worsens burns. She also claimed medics drilled an IV into her bone without any pain medication. Her injuries were so severe she had to be intubated, she said. 'I spent a long few weeks on the ventilator, I even managed to pull out my breathing tube at one point. 'I struggled with hallucinations and 'false memories' and it took a long time for me to be able to decipher what was real and what was not.' She said getting home from the southeast Asian country was a trial in itself. 'Getting a medivac plane that could handle flying 23 hours was a challenge in itself but the state department did an amazing job at getting that accomplished.' She went on to be treated by a team of doctors at the Denver UC health burn unit, who she credited with helping her incredible physical recovery. But that was only half the story; the accident also dented her self-esteem as Abbey went from being 'an 18-year-old who thought she was invincible to being covered in burns, head shaved, and unable to even go to the bathroom' without assistance - all in the blink of an eye. Four years later, and with the support of her friends and family, Abbey had transformed into a 'burnt bad b****' with a voracious appetite for life. She has also continued to use her recovery experience to inspire and help other burn survivors. 'I am now active in the burn survivor community where I try and encourage others with my story,' Abbey said at the time, adding: 'I try to constantly live every day like it could be my last.' The following year, Abbey - who is originally from Miamisburg, Ohio but has since relocated to Glendive, Montana - said she was engaged to her long-term boyfriend Austin Michael, pregnant and 'happier than ever' in a post on Reddit. 'Almost 5 years post burn! Didn't know how I'd ever live a normal life or be happy again. Now I'm engaged, pregnant, and happier than ever.'
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Photos of the giant rats leading land mine detection efforts in Cambodia
SIEM REAP, Cambodia (AP) — Rats may send some squealing, but in Cambodia, teams of the not-so-little critters have become indispensable in helping specialists detect land mines that have killed and maimed thousands in the Southeast Asian country. The African giant pouched rats, which can grow up to 45 centimeters (around 18 inches) and weigh up to 1.5 kilograms (more than 3 pounds), are on the front line, making their way nimbly across fields to signal to their handlers when they get a whiff of TNT, used in most land mines and explosive ordnance . 'While working with these rats, I have always found mines and they have never skipped a single one,' said Mott Sreymom, a rat handler at APOPO, a humanitarian demining group that trains and deploys rodent detection teams across the world. 'I really trust these mine detection rats," Mott told The Associated Press while on her lunch break after working on a land mine field in the province of Siem Reap. After three decades of conflict in the previous century, remnants of war littered approximately 4,500 square kilometers (about 1,737 square miles) of Cambodian land, according to a survey by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) in 2004. This affected all 25 Cambodian provinces and nearly half of the country's 14,000 villages. As of 2018, CMAA reported 1,970 square kilometers (760 square miles) remain uncleared. The rats have a keen sense of smell, making them a favorite at APOPO, which also employs land mine-detecting dog teams. 'Dogs and rats are better compared to other animals because they are trainable,' said Alberto Zacarias, a field supervisor of APOPO's technical survey dog teams, adding that they are also friendly and easily learn commands. Since demining officially began in Cambodia in 1992, more than 1.1 million mines have been cleared, as well as approximately 2.9 million other explosive remnants of war, according to a 2022 government demining progress report. And the African giant pouched rats are doing their part. 'We work with them almost daily, so we get closer,' Mott said. 'They are very friendly and they don't move around and get scared. They are like family.'
South China Morning Post
16-07-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Rat-ical solution: the giant pouched rodents saving lives in Cambodia's minefields
Rats may send some squealing, but in Cambodia , teams of the not-so-little critters have become indispensable in helping specialists detect landmines that have killed and maimed thousands in the Southeast Asian country. The African giant pouched rats, which can grow up to 45cm (18 inches) and weigh up to 1.5kg (3.3 pounds), are on the front line, making their way nimbly across fields to signal to their handlers when they get a whiff of TNT, used in most landmines and explosive ordnance. 'While working with these rats, I have always found mines, and they have never skipped a single one,' said Mott Sreymom, a rat handler at APOPO, a humanitarian demining group that trains and deploys rodent detection teams across the world. 'I really trust these mine detection rats,' Mott said from near a landmine field in the province of Siem Reap. Mott Sreymom, a rat handler with a humanitarian demining organisation applies sunblock to an African giant pouched rat in preparation for a day of demining in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Photo: AP Following three decades of conflict in the last century, remnants of war continue to affect approximately 4,500 square km (1,737 square miles) of land in Cambodia, according to a 2004 survey by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA). This issue impacts all 25 provinces in Cambodia and nearly half of the country's 14,000 villages.
Al Jazeera
16-07-2025
- General
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Cambodia deploys rodents for life-saving mine detection operations
Published On 16 Jul 2025 16 Jul 2025 In Cambodia, African giant pouched rats have become vital allies in detecting landmines that have devastated the Southeast Asian nation, despite the squeamishness they might cause some. These substantial rodents – reaching up to 45cm (18in) long and weighing up to 1.5kg(3.3lb) – navigate minefields with agility, alerting handlers when they detect TNT, the primary explosive in most mines and ordnance. 'While working with these rats, I have always found mines and they have never skipped a single one,' said Mott Sreymom, a handler at APOPO, the humanitarian organisation that trains and deploys these detection teams globally. 'I really trust these mine detection rats,' she told The Associated Press at a Siem Reap province minefield. Cambodia's land has been extensively contaminated after three decades of conflict. A 2004 survey by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) identified approximately 4,500 sq km (1,700sq miles) of affected terrain spanning all 25 provinces and nearly half of Cambodia's villages. As of 2018, 1,970 sq km (760sq miles) remained uncleared. The rats' exceptional sense of smell makes them invaluable to APOPO, which also uses canine detection teams. 'Dogs and rats are better compared to other animals because they are trainable,' explained Alberto Zacarias, a field supervisor for APOPO's technical survey dog teams. 'They are also friendly and easily learn commands.' Since Cambodia's demining efforts began officially in 1992, more than 1.1 million mines and approximately 2.9 million other explosive war remnants have been cleared, according to a 2022 government report. For handlers like Mott, these rodents are more than just detection tools: 'We work with them almost daily, so we get closer. They are very friendly and they don't move around and get scared. They are like family.'
Al Arabiya
16-07-2025
- General
- Al Arabiya
Photos Of The Giant Rats Leading Land Mine Detection Efforts In Cambodia
SIEM REAP, Cambodia (AP) – Rats may send some squealing, but in Cambodia, teams of the not-so-little critters have become indispensable in helping specialists detect land mines that have killed and maimed thousands in the Southeast Asian country. The African giant pouched rats, which can grow up to 45 centimeters (around 18 inches) and weigh up to 1.5 kilograms (more than 3 pounds), are on the front line, making their way nimbly across fields to signal to their handlers when they get a whiff of TNT used in most land mines and explosive ordnance. 'While working with these rats, I have always found mines, and they have never skipped a single one,' said Mott Sreymom, a rat handler at APOPO, a humanitarian demining group that trains and deploys rodent detection teams across the world. 'I really trust these mine detection rats,' Mott told The Associated Press while on her lunch break after working on a land mine field in the province of Siem Reap. After three decades of conflict in the previous century, remnants of war littered approximately 4,500 square kilometers (about 1,737 square miles) of Cambodian land, according to a survey by the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) in 2004. This affected all 25 Cambodian provinces and nearly half of the country's 14,000 villages. As of 2018, CMAA reported 1,970 square kilometers (760 square miles) remain uncleared. The rats have a keen sense of smell, making them a favorite at APOPO, which also employs land mine-detecting dog teams. 'Dogs and rats are better compared to other animals because they are trainable,' said Alberto Zacarias, a field supervisor of APOPO's technical survey dog teams, adding that they are also friendly and easily learn commands. Since demining officially began in Cambodia in 1992, more than 1.1 million mines have been cleared, as well as approximately 2.9 million other explosive remnants of war, according to a 2022 government demining progress report. And the African giant pouched rats are doing their part. 'We work with them almost daily, so we get closer,' Mott said. 'They are very friendly, and they don't move around and get scared. They are like family.'
