A man in Banteay Meanchey province poured gasoline on his family, lit them on fire, and then fled the scene on Tuesday night.
So Chea, 25, was drunk when he returned to his home in Malai district that night and argued with his wife, Phuong Phanny, 22.
He then poured gasoline on her, her mother-in-law, his sister, and their five-year-old daughter.
Villagers heard the screams of the family and entered the house to help them.
The victims survived and were brought to a hospital. Mr. Chea’s daughter is still in poor condition at the Jayavarman VII Children’s Hospital in Siem Reap province.
“There were burns on the entire body by gasoline. They were attacked cruelly,” said Sao Bun, Malai district police chief. Immediately after starting the fire, Mr. Chea jumped on his motorbike and fled the scene.
As of Thursday evening, police had not found him.