Five Cambodian Schoolgirls Killed After Bus Plunges Into Pond

OPA WIRE, Nov 10 (OPA) — Five girls died on Tuesday morning in Cambodia when a bus taking them to school veered off the road and plunged into a deep pond, police said. The crash took place in Kandal province, about 40 kilometers north of the capital, Phnom Penh, according to a statement posted by provincial police.

Witnesses reported that a motorcycle suddenly crossed in front of the fast-moving bus. The driver slammed on the brakes, causing the vehicle to skid into the roadside water. The bus sank just a few feet from the shore, but deep enough to trap the children inside, despite rescue efforts by villagers who rushed to the scene.

Nov Sokhon, chief traffic police of Khsach Kandal district, confirmed that all five victims died by drowning. The bus was carrying 26 students aged 12 to 14. In addition to the five fatalities, three students were listed in critical condition, and 18 sustained light injuries. Police detained the 31-year-old driver for questioning regarding the incident.

Traffic accidents remain a leading cause of accidental death in Cambodia. A Transport Ministry report stated that 1,467 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2025, while the National Police recorded more than 1,300 deaths in the first 10 months of 2026.