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2 Pulled Alive from Cambodian Building Collapse that Killed 28


Rescuers carry a survivor from the site of a collapsed building in Preah Sihanouk province, Cambodia, June 24, 2019.
Rescuers carry a survivor from the site of a collapsed building in Preah Sihanouk province, Cambodia, June 24, 2019.

Two men were pulled put alive Monday from a building that collapsed while under construction in Cambodia. At least 28 workers were killed and 26 others injured.

The workers were sleeping on the second floor of the seven-story building in the beach town of Sihanoukville. Survivors said at least 50 to 60 workers used the building as their housing.

The project was to be a condominium and was owned by a Chinese investor. Police have detained four people for questioning about the collapse, all said to be Chinese.

In a statement released Monday, the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh said it “supports a thorough investigation of the accident and necessary measures by competent Cambodian authority in accordance with the law.”

It also said it was mobilizing Chinese assistance for the rescue effort.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who visited the site late Sunday, announced on his Facebook page that he was establishing a special committee to exert control of Chinese building projects in the town.

He also said in his Facebook message that he asked provincial Governor Yun Min to resign and he agreed to do so.

Sihanoukville has seen a boom in Chinese funded construction in recent years, mostly casinos, residential buildings and hotels.

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