Photo by: Nick Sells (www.nicksellsphotography.com)

A fire in Tuol Kork district’s Boeung Kak 2 commune completely destroyed 158 houses and five monks’ rooms near Neak Von pagoda Monday night, said Net Vantha, director of City Hall’s police and fire brigade. Net Vantha said 26 fire trucks had been dispatched to fight the blaze, which started at 7pm and was out by 9:30pm. Tuol Kork district governor Seng Ratanak said officials had not determined the cause of the fire and could not say whether there had been any casualties.