Phnom Penh, December 31: The death toll has risen to 24 in a massive blaze that engulfed a casino complex at the Cambodia-Thailand border, CNN reported on Friday citing the local authorities. However, numerous people continue to remain missing after the blaze at the Grand Diamond City Hotel and Casino in Poipet, a city that borders Thailand.

The hotel employed an electric system for the rooms and elevators, so when the fire broke out and the building lost electricity, many guests were trapped in their rooms and were unable to escape, CNN quoted Sek Sokhom, the spokesman for the Cambodian province of Banteay Meanchey as saying. Cambodia Casino Fire: Death Toll Rises to 25 As Six More Bodies Recovered From Charred Rooms; Cause of Blaze Yet To Be Ascertained.

The cause of the fire remains unknown and the Cambodian government has set up a committee to investigate, he added. Notably, Poipet, a transportation centre between Bangkok, Thailand, and Siem Reap, Cambodia, is well-known for its numerous casinos and is home to a sizable Thai population that work in the city's gaming sector. Cambodia Fire: Massive Blaze Erupts in Grand Diamond City Casino Hotel in Poipet Town; 10 Killed, 30 Others Injured (Watch Video).

Fire At The Grand Diamond City Hotel:

Since nearly all types of gambling are prohibited in Thailand, many Thais cross the border to participate in legal gambling. Rescue operations are underway.

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