PHNOM Penh Municipal Hall has ordered advertising companies to repair all billboards in the capital within 30 days or face penalties, after a woman was injured when three billboards collapsed on the Chroy Changvar peninsula in Russei Keo district on Tuesday amid strong winds.

According to the announcement, signed by Phnom Penh governor Kep Chuktema on Thursday and released online on Saturday, there have been other incidents of billboards on the brink of collapse, banners tearing and piles of rubbish underneath signs across the city.

Chin Pou, director of the commercial billboard office at City Hall, said the order was released because some billboards affect “public safety and beauty in Phnom Penh”.

“We urge all the companies to repair [signs] again because the metal on some billboards is rusting. It is easy for them to collapse when the strong winds are coming and right now there is a lot of wind,” he said.

“If they do not follow [the guidelines] they will not be allowed to put the billboards up.”

Chan Nat, deputy Chroy Changvar commune chief, said that when he received the letter he would ensure that companies that own billboards across the commune will follow through on the order.

After the collapse of the three billboards, which were owned by Moon Media, the remaining two were partially dismantled but their metal structures remain. It is unclear when they will be fully taken down. 

Representatives from Moon Media declined to comment yesterday.