At least 50 Thai gamblers and employees of a Cambodian casino in the Poipet border town were reported to be trapped inside after the casino caught fire late Wednesday night. A number of people, mostly Thais, were injured and were taken to the Thai border town of Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo Province, for treatment.

It is not known whether or how many people have died in the fire, as some witnesses claim that they saw some people jumping from the 5th floor of the building, which is located at about 20 metres from the border. About 50 people were seen on the roof.

Five fire trucks and about 10 rescue vehicles and ambulances rushed to the scene to help extinguish the fire and help victims.

At about 2am this morning (Thursday), it was reported that the Aranyaprathet district hospital’s emergency ward was full of fire victims, many of them Thai women. Some of the injured were sent to the Kasemrad Aranyaprathet private hospital.

Witnesses said that they saw fire on the second and third floors of the casino and a lot of smoke billowing out of the building.

The latest reports from the scene say that the fire has intensified and has spread to nearby buildings.  More fire trucks and rescue teams from other districts of Sa Kaeo Province been sent to help control the blaze.

Poipet is a favourite destination for Thai gamblers, as gambling is illegal in Thailand and there are many casinos just over the border, some owned by Thai businessmen.

Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service