Death toll in Cambodia building collapse rises to 24

The death toll in the collapse of a seven-story building under-construction in southwestern Cambodia's Preah Sihanouk Province early on Saturday, has risen to 24, according to the latest report released by the rescue team on Monday.

"By 6:30 a.m. on June 24, 2019, 24 people were found dead under the debris, and 24 others were injured," the report said, adding that the rescue operation is still going on.

One Chinese national is feared among the 24 victims but further work identifying individuals is still ongoing.

Also, three Chinese nationals and one Cambodian are being held for questioning over the incident.

Following the incident, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen Sunday night oversaw the rescue operation on site and urged an all-out effort. 

Following the incident, the Chinese Embassy to Cambodia issued a condolence statement on Sunday, expressing its deepest sympathy to the victims in the accident.

The collapse happened around 4:00 a.m. on Saturday in the coastal town of Sihanoukville, the largest in Preah Sihanouk province. The building was nearly 80 percent complete when it collapsed.

Some  40 to 50 construction workers were believed asleep in the building when the incident occurred at midnight, according to Xinhua News Agency citing Preah Sihanouk Provincial Governor Yun Min.

The cause of the collapse is not yet clear but the construction was unauthorized.

"It was an unlicensed project, and the provincial authorities had warned the developer twice, but they ignored the warnings," Seng Loth, a spokesman for the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction told Xinhua.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)