Over 500,000 people evacuated as fighting resumes along the disputed Cambodia-Thailand border, with at least 11 killed and US President Trump pledging to intervene.
SAMRAONG: More than half a million people have fled to shelters in Cambodia and Thailand following renewed clashes along their disputed border.
At least 11 people, including Thai soldiers and Cambodian civilians, have been killed in the latest fighting.
The conflict centres on a century-old dispute over colonial-era frontier demarcation near historic temples.
Artillery blasts were heard near Samraong town in northwestern Cambodia on Wednesday morning.
Thai defence ministry spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri said over 400,000 people had been moved to safe shelters across seven provinces.
“We want to prevent a recurrence of the attacks on civilians we suffered in July,” he told reporters.
In Cambodia, defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said 101,229 people had been evacuated from five provinces.
Cambodian evacuee Lay Non described more intense fighting involving jets.
“This time the fighting is more intense, the Thais drop bombs from jets,” he told AFP.
Thai farmer Pratuan Chuawong, who lives 500 metres from the border, said the shelling felt more severe than in July.
“The sound of shells gets louder and louder each night,” she said.
Cambodia has withdrawn from the Southeast Asian Games hosted by Thailand, citing safety concerns for athletes.
The United States, China and Malaysia brokered a ceasefire after deadly clashes in July.
US President Donald Trump, who helped secure a follow-on agreement in October, said he would intervene.
“Tomorrow, I have to make a phone call, and I think they’ll get it,” Trump told supporters on Tuesday.
Thailand suspended the joint ceasefire agreement the following month.
