Scars of war: Cambodian's border towns in shambles after conflict
發佈日期: 2026-05-08 21:43
TVB News
Armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia erupted again last year, which have reportedly killed more than a hundred lives. That has also left multiple Cambodia border towns in tatters.
From Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh, it takes nearly eight hours by road to reach Oddar Meanchey Province along the Thai border. The closer to the frontier, the clearer the scars of war become.
This is the Cambodian border town of O'Smach, where the customs building has been left structurally unsafe.
After the Thai-Cambodian conflict unfolded, all land crossings between the two sides have been closed. Trade -- also ground to a halt. Border checkpoints, now stand deserted.
Cambodian officials say Thai troops attacked hotels and factories in O'Smach before taking over these buildings as surveillance points.
While TVB News was filming, Cambodian soldiers repeatedly warned the crew not to make noise in case Thai forces were alerted.
Once a bustling site, eateries and shops at the O'Smach marketplace still bear marks of shelling and gunfire.
The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has dragged on for a century.
Fighting flared up again last year, leaving over a hundred dead. Following mediation by China, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire, but sporadic clashes continue. Now, only the dental clinic remains open at the market.
A stall owner in the O'Smach Market said, "The fighting came so suddenly and when I heard the blasts, grabbed a few clothes and fled."
Days later, the stall owner returned -- only to see the shop where she worked for two decades become barely recognisable. She says what she can do now is to pray for peace. "I don't want to lose everything again. I don't want to lose my family and friends. No Cambodians want another war."
Our TVB reporter stands just 800 metres away from the original border to Thailand. Every night, the restricted zone expands even further including where our reporter stands -- which will soon become off-limits to civilians.
