A man digging for gold in Battambang province’s Phnom Proek district was killed on Saturday after the trench he was digging collapsed, local police said Sunday.
Chea Sam Oeun, 29, was digging for gold in Baraing Thleak commune with a group of three friends on Saturday at about 2:30 p.m.
When his friends took a break, Mr. Sam Oeun continued working and was in the 4-meter-deep trench when the walls caved in on him
“He dug the land to find gold ore to sell in order to get money to feed his family,” said commune police chief Suon Phorn.
“His friends tried to rescue him, but the wet and sticky earth continued to fall down,” Mr. Phorn said.
Mr. Sam Oeun’s friends eventually dug his body out nearly 10 hours after the collapse, Mr. Phorn said.
“He was dug from the land at midnight,” said commune chief Chay Mounh.
“The land was wet because the trench was deep and this season is rainy season.”
