PHNOM PENH — Two separate traffic accidents in Cambodia on Saturday killed at least 14 garment factory workers and injured 93 others, mostly women, the Labor Ministry said. The crashes occurred in Kampong Chhnang province north of the capital and in the southeastern province of Svay Rieng.
The first incident took place in Kampong Chhnang province, approximately 60 kilometers north of Phnom Penh, when a heavy cargo truck crashed into an open-top truck transporting workers to their factory. Nine people were killed and 53 injured in that collision, according to a statement issued by the Labor Ministry.
The second crash occurred in Svay Rieng province, a main garment-factory hub. A bus carrying workers veered off the road and overturned, killing five and injuring 40 others.
The Labor Ministry appealed for strict compliance with traffic laws to prevent accidents. The ministry issued its appeal in the same statement that reported the casualty figures from the Kampong Chhnang collision.
Flatbed trucks are the usual method of transportation available for garment factory workers in Cambodia. The vehicles often lack seats or benches, forcing passengers to stand and significantly increasing the risk of injury or death.
According to a Transport Ministry report, 1,467 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2025, making traffic accidents the leading cause of accidental deaths in Cambodia. The country's garment sector is the main export earner, with low labor costs as its competitive advantage.
Cambodia's garment sector employs an estimated 800,000 to 1 million people in approximately 1,900 factories, with production accounting for more than $15.5 billion in exports last year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Salaries in the sector, including overtime, generally amount to $200 to $300 a month.