More than 80 factory workers were injured yesterday when a truck carrying about 100 had a flat tyre and overturned on National Road 1 in Svay Rieng town.

Twelve female workers were taken to the provincial hospital with broken limbs and head injuries, while the rest suffered cuts and bruises, said Hout Vantha, deputy police chief in Svay Rieng town.

“Many workers were injured and we do not have all their names yet, but some have broken arms and legs and blacked out because many people piled up when it overturned,” he said. “I just know they were going to work in factories in Bavet town’s Special Economic Zone.”

Chan Dara, a director of the provincial referral hospital, said those seriously injured were operated on.

Sar Mora, president of the Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation, said medical bills should be covered by the national insurance scheme.

“In the past, such cases were paid for by the National Social Security Fund,” Mora said.