Although no one may have suffered death by electrocution on Diamond Bridge, it is almost certain that anyone who suffered an electric shock would have recoiled sharply from the point of contact. This would have added to the panic in a situation where only a little extra pressure in the crush could have made the difference between life and death. There are photographs, taken a couple of weeks before the tragedy, clearly showing wiring on the bridge was not sheathed in a safe conduit.

One lesson that needs to be learned from the events of November 24th is that there needs to be an immediate imposition of a higher standard of electrical safety in buildings open to the public.

Michael Hansen

Phnom Penh

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