Cambodian evacuees from border conflict with Thailand rise to over 300,000: ministry

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The number of Cambodian evacuees from the ongoing border fighting with Thailand has risen to more than 300,000 as of Friday afternoon, the Cambodian Ministry of Interior said in a press release.

Nearly 90,000 families with over 300,000 people had fled their homes near the Thai border for safe shelters, the press release said.

The Cambodia-Thailand border conflict was still going on as of Friday afternoon, said Cambodian Defense Ministry's Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata.

"At 13:27, the Thai troops deployed aircraft to bombard Veal Intry area (in Preah Vihear province)," she said in a press briefing.

Socheata added that the Thai army also intensified its artillery shelling and toxic smoke at Prey Chan village in Banteay Meanchey province on Friday afternoon.■