Death toll rises as Thai-Cambodia clashes spread along frontier

Coastal regions see fighting as both sides blame the other for failure to reach truce

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Thailand and Cambodia pounded each other with heavy artillery fire for a third day on July 26, as a border conflict that has killed at least 33 people and displaced more than 170,000 from their homes spread across the frontier.

Clashes broke out for the first time in the countries' coastal regions where they meet on the Gulf of Thailand, around 250km southwest of the main front lines thumping with blasts on the afternoon of July 26.

"It feels like I'm escaping a war zone," 76-year-old Samlee Sornchai told AFP at a temple shelter for evacuees in the Thai town of Kanthararom, after abandoning his farm near the embattled frontier.

Both sides say they are open to a truce in the combat being fought with jets, tanks and ground troops, but have accused the other of undermining armistice efforts.

Tensions initially flared over long-contested ancient temple sites, but fighting has spread along the neighbours' rural frontier region, marked by a ridge of forest-clad hills surrounded by wild jungle and agricultural land where locals farm rubber and rice.

Both sides reported a coastline clash at around 5am (6am Singapore time), with Cambodia accusing Thai forces of firing "five heavy artillery shells" into locations in Pursat province, which borders Thailand's Trat province.

Cambodia's Defence Ministry said 13 people were now confirmed killed in the fighting, comprising eight civilians and five soldiers, with 71 people wounded.