PHNOM PENH — Fire destroyed the city’s historic “old market” Monday, gutting about two-thirds of the market's 914 stalls, media reports said.
Khuong Sreng, deputy governor of Phnom Penh Municipality, told China's Xinhua news agency that the 7.30am blaze ripped through the iron-zinc roofed Psar Chas market at Peace Park between streets 108 and 110, completely destroying 300 booths and damaging another 300.
Several vendors suffered minor injuries trying to rescue their wares, the Khmer Times reported.
"It was really difficult for our fire-fighting police to extinguish the flame because the blaze started from the central part and fire trucks could not get closer to it," he was quoted as telling reporters.
Thirty-one fire trucks finally extinguished the fire about 9.30am. Witnesses said the fire was caused by an electric fault.
A platinum and silver jeweler, Sok Lux, 29, told the Khmer Times that the fire began in the eastern part of the market along Street 13. He tried to put it out, but failed. Damage at his stall alone was estimated at $10,000.
Located on the river at the south end of the Old French Quarter, Phsar Chas is one of the most-popular and most-crowded markets. Not geared toward tourists, the market draws locals shopping for everything from fruits and vegetables to motorcycle parts.