More than 40ha of rice fields belonging to a military unit and villagers has been damaged by a forest fire, Sre Huy commune councillor in Mondulkiri province, Mann Ream, told The Post on Thursday.

Ream said a forest fire on Wednesday destroyed 35ha of rice plantation owned by a provincial sub-operational military unit.

Another 7ha field which belongs to the villagers was destroyed by the same fire, he said.

The fields span across Sre Chrey and Tuol Sralao villages in Koh Nhek district. “At the moment, officials from the military unit are investigating to identify the perpetrators,” Ream said, suspecting that honey harvesters and “forest exploiters” were likely the ones who caused the fire.