A Tompoun ethnic minority man Rochom Horn was killed on Sunday whereas digging for valuable stones in Ratanakiri province’s Bakeo district.

Horn, 24, was with a gaggle of Tompoun villagers from Laminh commune’s Kamang village when the accident on Sunday occurred.

Bakeo district police chief Colonel Cheng Chanty stated yesterday stated a small group of Tompoun ethnic minority individuals who have been jobless typically enter the state land within the mountainous area to dig for valuable stones despite the fact that it has been prohibited.

“They’re poor and uneducated individuals however they dig to outlive.

“Authorities have stopped them many occasions as a result of not solely is it unlawful, it’s harmful,” Col Chanty stated.

He stated the unlawful miners would dig four-metre-deep pits to seek for stones.

“The miners have been in a gap every and when the earth round Horn’s pit collapsed, the others didn’t learn about it.

“It was solely after they have been calling it a day that they realised that Horn was lacking. By then it was too late.

They dug the earth out of Horn’s pit and located his physique.

• Tags: Rochom Horn, Tompoun