527,000 evacuate from Cambodia-Thai clashes

Renewed border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia shows no signs of abating, leaving hundreds of thousands of displaced people in both countries living in strained conditions as more flooded into temporary shelters.

- JERRY HARMER AND JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI

A wounded Thai soldier is carried away after clashes with Cambodia combatants

(Sakchai Lalit)

Reporters on the Thai side of the border heard sounds of outgoing, indirect fire yesterday.

About 400,000 people have been evacuated from affected areas in Thailand and about 700 schools closed while fighting was ongoing in four border provinces, Thai military spokesman Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri said.

Cambodia evacuated more than 127,000 villagers and hundreds of schools closed, the defence ministry said.

Thailand’s military announced that casualties this week include five soldiers killed and dozens wounded.

Cambodia said seven civilians died and 20 others were wounded, though it did not update those figures yesterday.

There is not yet a clear path to peace as Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul vowed to continue to fight and Cambodia's powerful senate President Hun Sen promised a fierce response.