5 killed, 30,000 withdraw from Thai border in clashes

April 25, 2011

BANGKOK (Xinhua) -- Five Thai troops have been killed and about 30,000 residents have withdrawn from the Thai border area since the latest round of border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia happened recently, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department's general-director said Monday.

About 25,942 Thai residents living in 36 villages of northeastern Surin province along the border have suffered from border-cross firing and shelling while some 4,500 in Buriram province are affected. All together about 30,000 evacuees are currently staying at over 20 makeshift camps in two provinces, according to the department.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said six hospitals in Surin province have been closed temporarily and all of their staff have been deployed to work at 35 field hospitals in Surin and Buriram provinces to take care of the evacuees around the clock.

Medical staffs have been instructed to watch closely for signs of contagious diseases, particularly malaria, Jurin said.

The latest three-day clashes from April 22 to 24 took place at the 13th century Ta Muen temple and Ta Kwai temple, known in Cambodian as Ta Moan and Ta Krabei respectively.

The fighting resulted in six deaths and 16 injuries of Cambodian soldiers as reported recently by Phnom Penh.

Posted in: Xinhua