As day of mourning arrives, officials offer conflicting reports, figures
The chairman of the government relief committee tasked to deal with the casualties of Monday’s stampede at Koh Pich island put the number of dead from the disaster at 456 last night.
A national day of mourning is to be held today.
Social Affairs Minister Ith Sam Heng said that 347 corpses had been identified at Phnom Penh hospitals and shipped to 18 provinces while bereaved families took the remaining bodies home.
“The dead from the provinces and those that were, taken away by their own families’ hands total 456,” said Mr Sam Heng.
Death counts released by other government officials and spokesmen differed widely.
Mr Sam Heng specifically broke down the roster of the dead identified at hospitals: 65 from Phnom Penh, 64 from Kandal province, 32 from Takeo, 37 from both Kampong Cham and Prey Veng, 26 from Svay Rieng, 20 from Kampong Speu, nine from Kampot, five from Kompong Thom, four from Pursat, two each from Kratie, Battambang and Oddar Meanchey provinces, and one each from Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey.
“There are still 395 injured at the four hospitals, where the government is offering care free of charge thanks to Prime Minister Hun
