Chhum Kosal, a freelance construction manager based in Siem Reap and a volunteer at the Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia , said negligence and lack of skill were to blame.
Provincial deputy police chief Phoeng Chanthareth told The Post on Tuesday that the authorities had yet to find those most responsible for the incident. One person had sustained serious injuries to his backbone and had been sent to Calmette hospital in Phnom Penh, while others were being cared for at the provincial referral hospital.
But ministry spokesman Seng Lot denied that construction at the dining hall was under his ministry’s oversight. He said only the Apsara National Authority – a state body tasked with managing the Angkor Archaeological Park – had jurisdiction over construction in Siem Reap. “Prasat Kokchak pagoda is within the heritage protection area. But I can confirm that the pagoda asked for permission from the Apsara National Authority to construct the dining hall.