A 27-year-old employee at the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority died in hospital Tuesday after a trench he was digging to lay a water pipe collapsed on him in Meanchey district, an official said.
Ouk Sok Hong was digging the trench, which will be used to transport water from the PPWSA headquarters on Monivong Boulevard to Veng Sreng Street, when the excavated soil crumbled and buried him, said PPWSA deputy director Long Naro.
The victim’s coworkers, who scrambled out of the trench and sustained minor injuries, dug him out and sent him to the hospital, said Stung Meanchey commune police chief Mao Saroeun.
“Ouk Sok Hong was under soil while other workers were digging to help him out,” he said.
The victim’s body will be sent to his home in Takeo province for the funeral, said Mr. Naro.
The street, which is home to a number of the country’s garment factories, has been under construction since November. Initially slated to take 14 months, the construction company admitted in May that work was moving slower than anticipated and would likely take an additional 14 months.
