Electrical malfunctions caused potentially serious fires to break out in two commercial buildings in the capital on June 6, but were put out before spreading to other properties thanks to timely responses by the authorities.

Prum Yorn, director of the Phnom Penh municipal Department of Fire Prevention, Extinguishing and Rescue, said the flames broke out in two different districts. One began in a health clinic and the other in a seafood restaurant.

According to Yorn, the first fire was sparked at around 7am at Khema International Polyclinic in Boeung Keng Kang distirct’s Boeng Keng Kang I commune.

“After careful investigation by our specialists, it was determined that the fire was most likely to have been caused by an electrical malfunction,” he said.

Yorn said a resident had alerted his forces in the nick of time. The firefighters had arrived within minutes and managed to keep damage to a minimum and prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the building, he said, noting that three full truckloads of water had been used to put out the flames.

The second fire broke out at a popular seafood restaurant in Tonle Bassac commune of neighbouring Chamkarmon district. Two truckloads of water were used to extinguish the blaze.