CHANHABURI, Thailand – A chaotic scene unfolded at the Ban Laem permanent border checkpoint in Pong Nam Ron district this morning, as more than 30,000 Cambodian nationals gathered to cross back into their country, July 27.
By 8:30 a.m., well before the official 9:00 a.m. gate opening, the area outside the Ban Laem market border point was overwhelmed with a dense crowd hauling luggage and personal belongings. The heat and crowd pressure caused several people to faint, and a stampede nearly broke out.
In response, Thai authorities were forced to open the main border gate earlier than scheduled to relieve the pressure and prevent casualties.
Officers worked to control the crowd and manage the flow of returnees throughout the morning. The border remained open until 3:00 p.m. to accommodate the surge.
No serious injuries were reported, but officials described the scene as dangerously overcrowded and called for improved crowd control protocols in future mass crossings. (TNA)
