In the wake of a deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, which also caused devastation in neighboring Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet called on authorities and developers to strengthen construction quality in Cambodia, particularly high-rise and older buildings, to prevent risks of natural disasters and climate change.

In the past few days, earthquakes have occurred around the world, including in Southeast Asia, resulting in the loss of lives and damaged property, he said during the inauguration of the Morodok Techo Skybridge on Monday.

Owing to that, he instructed the Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Ministry (MLMUPC), National Disaster Management Committee, capital-provincial administrations, and relevant ministries and institutions to cooperate and strengthen the implementation of technical work in physical infrastructures to minimize natural disaster risks, including those brought by climate change.

“Of course, Cambodia is a country with low risks of earthquakes unlike Burma, which is located between tectonic plates,” he said. 

“But when there is an earthquake in Burma, Cambodia is also affected. Even if it is not affected, it is a sign that we must consider [the risks]. The design of high-rise buildings must take into consideration the quality of construction, especially in very old buildings in Phnom Penh where people live,” he said. 

He called on construction companies to consider safety standards and not compromise on quality. Although they have to ”compete to make money quickly”, they must be responsible for residents’ safety.

If the contractor knows that the work is technically incorrect and still does it, it is illegal according to the law. 

So, he requested the private sector to join the state and diligently observe construction standards. It must be strictly implemented to protect people and prevent misfortunes from happening.

“Making money is fine, but do not take the profit from people’s lives. Even I am relying on the developer,” said Manet. 

According to a report by the Phnom Penh Municipal Government, the capital has 1,777 high-rise buildings with five floors or more, as of 2023. There are also 310 borey construction sites, and 536 new projects which were reviewed and given a construction permit. It covers a total construction area of ​​269,166 square meters, with an estimated investment capital of approximately $132 million.

Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction Minister Say Sam Al did not respond to CamboJA News. 

According to Soth Kimkolmony, spokesperson for the National Committee for Disaster Management in Cambodia, the buildings will be inspected by the National Committee for Disaster and MLMUPC in order to eliminate the impact of natural disasters.

He added that the committee is addressing this issue head-on and has formed an expert team to continue the conversation. “We will discuss more to prevent the effects of natural disasters,” said Mony. 

Cambodia has not experienced any serious effects of earthquakes to date but the authority will take strong action to inspect all constructions to make sure they are safe and can withstand the impact.

“We don’t know when earthquakes will happen, but we have to be ready. We need to study this case,” said Mony.

The earthquake in central Myanmar caused significant damage and fatalities. According to the BBC, the death toll had risen to 3,000, with 4,715 people injured and hundreds more missing.

The effect of the earthquake was also felt in Thailand where a 30-storey building under construction in Bangkok collapsed resulting in loss of lives, including a Cambodian migrant worker from Malai district, Banteay Meanchey. A few more Cambodians are thought to be buried still in the debris.

Leung Sophon of Cambodian labor rights NGO CENTRAL, told CamboJA News that Hun Manet’s call to improve the quality of construction in Cambodia was necessary and those involved in the sector should pay close attention. In other words, he said, if constructions in Cambodia do not meet technical standards, it will affect human lives and the tourism sector.

“Everyone is concerned about life. If there is an earthquake, it will affect human lives,” said Sophon. 

On the status of the search and rescue of victims, Thailand-based Sophon said rescue teams are continuing work, using technical means to find bodies and any survivors.

Meanwhile, Sophon said, families of missing people are still in shock and grieving over the loss of loved ones. They have been in Thailand, waiting for news since the building collapsed. Sophon said he has yet to receive any official information on the number of people missing.

“We only know that there are many Cambodian workers in the building, but we dare not say exactly how many,” Sophon said. 

A Cambodian woman who was injured in the building collapse in Bangkok, Thailand, Soeun Samnang, 44, from Kampong Thom province, said although she has recovered, she is still terrified by the tragedy. Samnang said she will stop working in Thailand and continue to work in her hometown.

While Cambodia is not affected by severe earthquakes like its neighbors, she believes the buildings here will meet technical standards to mitigate the risk.

“I’m a bit better. I am resting at home and will stop migrating [for work]. I want the ministry to focus on the quality of construction so that there will be no incidents like in Thailand,” Somnang said. 

Katta Orn, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, said one Cambodian worker died in the earthquake and injured two others. He told CamboJA News that the government has provided support, with one injured worker receiving medical assistance in Cambodia and another from Thai authorities.

The Cambodian embassy in Thailand and relevant officials are working closely with Thai authorities to verify the identity of victims and determine if more Cambodian workers were affected.

“Following the incident, the prime minister instructed the ministry and labor officials to closely monitor the situation and gather information to coordinate with Thai counterparts to identify the victims,” Orn said.

Although the Bangkok administration has officially concluded its disaster response, he confirmed that labor officials are still actively monitoring the situation and continuing search and rescue efforts for missing Cambodians there.