More than a dozen factory workers were injured during a rush to leave the Reliable Source Industrial Company in Phnom Penh’s Dankor district after sparks and smoke coming from the circuit breaker caused fears of a fire.

More than 1,000 employees tried to rush out of the building through the same exit, causing an obstruction.

Phol Phalin, the administrative manager at the factory, said yesterday about 20 workers were sent to hospital for treatment at the company’s expense.

“The injuries are not very serious. We gave all our employees the rest of the day off and we will begin again on Thursday. The workers with injuries can take time off to recover.”  

Bun Narim, 28, an injured worker, said yesterday that many people fell unconscious after being stepped on or pushed.

Fellow coworker Long Davy, 27, was unconscious for approximately an hour and is recovering at hospital.

“I tried to run out of the building, but I do not know what happened, because I was unconscious and then discovered I was in the hospital,” she said.