AKP Phnom Penh, February 16, 2025 --

The Ministry of Environment has rejected a misleading information about fire hotspots in Cambodia widely spread on social media recently, causing public concerns.

Those fire-related reports, based on small-scale map, could not accurately identify the places, said the ministry in a press release made public this morning.

These false information and image have been shared, creating confusion about the actual situation happening in Cambodia, as it seems as if the whole of Cambodia is burning red, the source underlined.

The Ministry of Environment added that its General Department of Natural Protected Areas has regularly monitored the fire incidents, in close collaboration with regional expert institutions, especially the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre, and has also conducted on-the-ground verification. 

As a result, it continued, as the press release from the General Department of Natural Protected Areas had already stated, there was no serious forest fire, but only burning grass and rice straw. 

The ministry took the opportunity to call on the citizens to be vigilant and stop burning grass, garbage, rice straw, etc., and all sub-national administrations to pay attention and educate local people about this issue.

The public is also requested to be careful and take part in preventing fire incidents, while the Ministry of Environment will continue to monitor and provide updates as necessary.

Cambodia, Satellite view

By C. Nika