Surin: The Royal Thai Army, in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice's Institute of Forensic Science, inspected the scene at Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin Province to collect evidence of the effects of Cambodian artillery shelling. Reporters stated that the Royal Thai Army, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice's Institute of Forensic Medicine, inspected and collected evidence from the fighting that occurred along the Thai-Cambodian border at the Phanom Dong Rak Hospital, 80th Anniversary Celebration, Phanom Dong Rak District, Surin Province.
According to Thai News Agency, the hospital was hit by three Cambodian artillery shells on the morning of July 24, 2015. The incident resulted in damage to several buildings, particularly the Phumipat Building and the Phra Khru Aphattham (Luang Ta Rod) Community Health Center, which house prenatal examination rooms and provide vital services to the community. This prompted the emergency evacuation of patients to a safer area.
An official at the incident said, 'I work in the prenatal examination room, which normally has a wide variety of customers, including 5-10 mothers who come for prenatal care each day (on the day of the incident, there was only one), children who come for vaccinations, and elderly people who come for health checkups.
During the incident, an explosion was heard from the nearby Bhumipat Building. Shrapnel then entered the maternity examination room and the doctor's area. Fortunately, no one was injured at the time, and the pregnant woman was evacuated safely. Meanwhile, patients and relatives still inside the building rushed to temporary shelters. Some became so panicked and anxious that they even made their final wishes known to their relatives. Once the situation calmed down, officials immediately provided assistance to the injured.
This incident not only highlights the severity of the border situation, but also highlights the vulnerability of the public, particularly in hospitals, which should be the safest places to live. They face threats and fear on a daily basis, impacting the health services that are essential for protection from war and conflict.
Currently, officers from the Institute of Forensic Science have collected all evidence from the scene, particularly shrapnel, for examination in the Institute of Forensic Science's laboratory to determine the origin and details of the shooting.