3 tourists killed by lightning while taking shelter from the rain at a famous temple

A lightning strike occurred at the Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap province (Cambodia), killing 3 people and injuring more than 10 others while participating in a traditional ceremony.

The incident was reported by the media on May 21.

According to local security sources, the incident occurred at around 5 p.m. local time. At this time, many Cambodians gathered on top of the temple to perform a spiritual ritual in rainy weather conditions.

Some injured tourists were assisted by rescue teams (Photo: The National).

Most of the victims were Cambodian citizens.

Cambodian authorities have not yet made an official announcement on the number of casualties in the incident.

Initial preliminary assessments show that the lightning protection system at Angkor Wat temple area may not be adequate, leading to serious consequences.

Immediately after the incident, Cambodian Tourism Minister Hout Hak issued a statement calling on people to remove related posts on social media, saying that spreading "negative information" could affect the country's tourism industry.

Located in Siem Reap province, northwestern Cambodia, Angkor Wat is a unique and sacred religious architectural complex. This is a must-see attraction for any tourist to Cambodia.

Angkor Wat religious architectural complex (Photo: WK).

The structures here mark many historical ups and downs of the Khmer dynasty, from the 9th to the 15th century with 72 large temples along with a number of small temples scattered throughout the area. This Cambodian temple complex is also one of the largest religious monuments in the world .

UNESCO recognized Angkor Wat as a World Heritage Site in 1992. This place is not only a symbol of culture, religion, and historical heritage, but also has high value in terms of architecture, archaeology, and art.

It is now Cambodia's most popular tourist destination, attracting about 2.5 million visitors each year, and is also a national symbol printed on the national flag.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/ngoi-tru-mua-o-ngoi-den-noi-tieng-3-du-khach-bi-set-danh-thiet-mang-20250522144338886.htm