At least 13 people died after a passenger bus traveling from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh plunged off a bridge into a river in Kampong Thom province. About 40 people had boarded the bus and roughly two dozen were injured. A preliminary probe suggests the driver may have been drowsy after a nighttime departure. The bodies are being held at a nearby hospital while rescuers continue searching and authorities investigate.
Night Bus from Siem Reap Plunges Off Bridge in Cambodia — 13 Dead, Dozens Injured
At least 13 people died after a passenger bus traveling from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh plunged off a bridge into a river in Kampong Thom province. About 40 people had boarded the bus and roughly two dozen were injured. A preliminary probe suggests the driver may have been drowsy after a nighttime departure. The bodies are being held at a nearby hospital while rescuers continue searching and authorities investigate.
07:40 PM, 11/20/2025Society
At least 13 people were killed and roughly two dozen others injured when a passenger bus traveling from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh plunged off a bridge into a river in Kampong Thom province early Thursday, authorities said.
The bus was en route from Siem Reap — the province that houses the Angkor Wat temple complex — to the capital when it crashed in the predawn hours. Deputy Police Chief Siv Sovanna said all passengers aboard were Cambodian nationals.
Preliminary findings and rescue efforts
A preliminary investigation suggested the driver may have been drowsy after departing Siem Reap at night on what is normally a roughly 5½-hour journey, Siv Sovanna said. He did not confirm whether the driver was among the casualties.
Authorities believe about 40 people boarded the bus. Rescue teams continued searching the scene for additional victims, and the bodies of those killed were being held at a nearby hospital until relatives could claim them.
Wider road safety context
Road safety remains a serious concern in Cambodia. According to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, traffic crashes claimed 1,509 lives in 2024, and 1,062 people were killed in the first nine months of 2025. Officials indicated the crash will be part of an ongoing inquiry as they work to determine the full cause and any contributing factors.
Note: Investigations are ongoing and details may be updated as authorities release more information.