Phnom Penh (VNA) – On July 13, financial aid and relief supplies from Vietnamese State agencies continued to reach those Cambodian and Vietnamese-Cambodian families recently affected by the blaze in Phnom Penh.

Representatives from the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) chapter in Ho Chi Minh City visited the victims and provided 15 million VND (nearly 650 USD) to each household, while those from the HCM City Women’s Union donated a total of 50 million VND to the victims (2,163 USD).

Those affected also received relief supplies, including rice, instant noodles, and other necessities from several other organisations and donors.

On hearing the awful news, the hearts of Vietnamese people went out to those severely hit by the fire, said Nguyen Thanh Trung, Vice Chairman of the VFF’s HCM City chapter, during the visit.

He pledged that the chapter will offer financial support to help the victims rebuild their houses and soon return to normal life.

Those affected by the fire still face some life-threatening challenges as the area where they have been provided with temporary accommodation is vulnerable to floods from the Mekong River, especially when the rainy season has arrived.

The fire broke out in the Russey Keo district of the Cambodian capital city at 3.15 am on July 10, destroying 59 houses completely and causing substantial damages to 67 households, including 57 Vietnamese Cambodian families.

According to the local police, the fire was caused by an electrical fault. Firefighters deployed 32 fire engines, however the road was extremely narrow and the houses were mostly made of wood, so firefighters struggled to battle the blaze.

Shortly after the incident occurred, the Vietnamese Embassy and the Khmer-Vietnamese Association sent officials to the site and talked with local authorities and police to seek aid for the victims.-VNA