{
  "id": 19479347,
  "title": "5 Cambodian schoolgirls killed as a bus skids off a road into a pond",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/5-cambodian-schoolgirls-killed-as-a-bus-skids-off-a-road-into-a-pond",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-11T10:06:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Khaosod English",
    "slug": "khaosod-english",
    "url": "https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/asean/2026/11/11/5-cambodian-schoolgirls-killed-as-a-bus-skids-off-a-road-into-a-pond/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KHSACH KANDAL, Cambodia - Five schoolgirls tragically lost their lives on Tuesday morning when their bus overturned on a road and fell into a deep pond, according to police. The incident occurred in Kandal province, roughly 25 miles north of Phnom Penh, as reported by the provincial police through a Facebook statement. Eyewitnesses testified that a motorcycle had suddenly appeared in front of the bus, which was moving at a high speed, prompting the driver to abruptly apply the brakes. Consequently, the vehicle skidded into the roadside water. A video shared on social media depicted the bus submerged just a few feet from the shore, but at a depth making escape exceptionally challenging, even with immediate assistance from nearby villagers who attempted to pull the children from the water. Medics provided cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to some of the rescued children, as stated by Sun Kunthy, one of the rescuers. The bus was carrying 26 students aged between 12 and 14 years old. Apart from the five fatalities, three others were in critical condition, while 18 sustained minor injuries. Police apprehended the 31-year-old bus driver for inquiry. Nov Sokhon, chief traffic police of Khsach Kandal district, confirmed that all five girls succumbed to drowning. He added that the death toll could have been significantly higher had the locals not intervened promptly. Local students and villagers congregated near the crash site in Anlong village, located in Khsach Kandal district, northeastern Phnom Penh, on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) According to a report released by the National Police in early November, traffic accidents in Cambodia claimed over 1,300 lives during the first ten months of the year. A separate report from the Transport Ministry revealed that 1,467 individuals were killed in traffic accidents in 2025, making it the predominant cause of accidental deaths in the Southeast Asian country. In May of this year, two separate accidents on the same day resulted in at least 14 garment factory workers losing their lives and 79 others sustaining injuries, predominantly women. The victims were passengers on flatbed trucks, a common mode of transportation for workers. These vehicles frequently lack seating or benches, compelling passengers to stand during the journey, thereby heightening the risk of injury or death in the event of a collision.",
  "summary": "KHSACH KANDAL, Cambodia (AP) — Five girls died on Tuesday morning in Cambodia when a bus taking them to school veered off the road and plunged into a deep pond, police said. The crash took place in Kandal province, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the capital, Phnom Penh, said a statement posted on […] The post 5 Cambodian schoolgirls killed as a bus skids off a road into a pond appeared…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "5 Cambodian schoolgirls killed as a bus skids off a road into a pond",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/5-cambodian-schoolgirls-killed-as-a-bus-skids-off-a-road-into-a-pond",
        "published": "2026-11-10T11:27:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}