Cambodia crashes kill 14 garment workers, injure 93 others

Two separate traffic accidents in Cambodia on Saturday killed 14 garment factory workers and injured 93 others, with the country's Labor Ministry saying it was "deeply shocked by two horrific traffic accidents that occurred simultaneously," The Korea Times reported.

The deaths expose persistent transportation safety risks facing workers in Cambodia's garment sector, which employs between 800,000 and 1 million people across roughly 1,900 factories and exported $15.5 billion in goods last year.

A cargo truck collided with an open-top transport truck carrying factory workers in Kampong Chhnang province, about 60 kilometers north of Phnom Penh, killing nine people and injuring 53, according to The Korea Times. The majority of victims were women employed at garment factories.

A second accident unfolded in Svay Rieng province in southeastern Cambodia, where a bus transporting garment workers veered off the road and overturned, killing five and injuring 40 others.

Cambodia's Labor Ministry said it was "deeply shocked by two horrific traffic accidents that occurred simultaneously," the outlet reported. The Transport Ministry was also notified of both crashes.

Worker transportation safety has long drawn scrutiny in Cambodia's garment industry. Workers are routinely ferried on flatbed trucks that lack seats or benches, forcing passengers to stand. Garment workers typically earn between $200 and $300 per month, including overtime, according to The Korea Times.

Cambodia's garment sector spans roughly 1,900 factories and exported $15.5 billion in goods last year, making it the country's dominant export industry.

Cambodia recorded 1,467 traffic deaths in 2025, making road accidents the leading cause of accidental deaths in the country, according to The Korea Times.