One worker was killed and two others were seriously injured during an accident at a charcoal factory in Preah Sihanouk province yesterday, police said.

Tak Vanntha, chief of police in Stung Hav district, said heavy rocks had fallen on the men while they were digging in a deep hole at about 3pm.

“I don’t know many details yet, but I’ve ordered my officers to work on this case,” he said.

Long Phong, deputy district police chief, said Ouch Chana, 38, from Kampot province, had died in the accident, while Mon Keo, 21, and Chub Buntheoun, 19, both from Takeo province, had been seriously injured.

“The two injured men have been taken to hospital and we’re trying to recover the body of the man who died, but [the hole] is very deep,” he said.

Phong said he did not yet know the name of the company involved, due to the number of factories in Stung Hav district, but believed it was Chinese-owned and had been operating in the province for about three years.

Boun Narith, provincial co-ordinator for rights group Licadho, said he was investigating a separate incident that had occurred on Monday at what he believed was the same factory.

That particular accident, he said, had resulted in four workers being injured and taken to hospital in Phnom Penh for treatment.

To contact the reporter on this story: May Titthara at [email protected]