Villages are asking authorities to investigate tycoon Lim Bunna’s rock quarry in Tbong Khmum province after a woman was killed by what appeared to be debris from an explosion on Friday.

Kheng Samnang, 34, a local who lived near the tycoon’s quarry in Tbong Khmum district’s Chirou II commune, was found dead of a serious head injury about 700 metres from the site of a blast at the quarry, which had been preceded by a warning siren, according to District Police Chief Suos Siengly. A large bloodstained rock was found nearby.

Reached yesterday, owner of LBN Group Bunna said the family accepted $10,000 as compensation and agreed to drop the case.

“I think that it is an unexpected accident,” Bunna said. “Before the explosion, we sounded the alarm . . . but she still walked near the quarry.”

District Governor Keng Bunna said he was waiting for experts to investigate the blast, and said villagers had told him they were scared to return to the quarry.

They said they were worried about safety, but claimed their concerns were ignored because of the owner’s influence.

Chea Chandara, head of the Tboung Khmum Provincial Department of Mines and Energy, could not be reached.