Shoe exports bound for Japan were destroyed when a factory building belonging to Magnate Footwear caught fire, with possible losses totalling millions of dollars, according to an insider.

An electrical fault is believed to have led to the blaze, which set alight one of six buildings belonging to Magnate Footwear in Phnom Penh’s Dangkor district on Tuesday night.

Yong Mey, administration manager of Magnate Footwear, said today: “We have lost shoes filling about 10 containers, which were already prepared for export to Japan this week.”

She added that a few machines had been burned and the fire was believed to have been caused by an electrical failure. Production at the company’s other facilities was continuing, she said.

Yong Mey said that total company losses were still being calculated, but a worker who spoke with The Post and asked not to be named reported that workers had been told of millions of dollars in losses by a high-ranking official.

The report could not be verified further today.

Net Vantha, director of Phnom Penh Municipal Police Fire Brigade, said today that the Chinese company had not provided details about its losses due to it being an “internal affair”.

Today, a job announcement banner was hanging in front of the factory and Yong Mey confirmed that workers were still being recruited.