A cruise boat burst into flames and sank into the Tonle Sap near the Japanese Friendship Bridge in Phnom Penh on Wednesday night, forcing the crew and passengers to jump overboard, police said.
Twenty-five passengers on the Odyssey dinner cruise boat, formerly owned by Phnom Penh’s La Croisette restaurant, jumped into the river and had to be rescued by police, Tourist Police Chief Ream Vicheat said Thursday.
The owner of the boat was burned on both hands, he said, while 14 foreigners and 11 Cambodians onboard were injured.
“There were seven waiters on the boat…. One of them was carrying food when they fell down on the gas tank and created the fire,” he said.
Police and fishing boats rescued the crew and passengers.
Voice of America radio reported that French Embassy officials were entertaining guests on the Odyssey when it went down in flames. Embassy spokeswoman Claude Abily said she could not confirm that embassy officials were among those present on the boat on Thursday.
Employees of La Croisette restaurant said their restaurant was no longer connected to the boat. “Last night police were very confused and told many people it was our boat,” said one employee, who declined to give his name.
Calls to a number for Odyssey boat cruises went unanswered.
