6 dead, 2 injured: Rockets allegedly from Cambodia hit Thailand 7-Eleven service station

War has broken out along the Thai-Cambodian border on Thursday, Jul. 24, which resulted in injuries, casualties, and the destruction of at least one 7-Eleven outlet at a gas station in Thailand.

Caused explosion

Rockets allegedly fired from Cambodia hit a PTT gas station in Ban Phue, Kantharalak District, Sisaket Province in southeastern Thailand.

It caused an explosion and fire.

A video of the aftermath of the incident was circulated widely on social media.

A body could be seen at the back of a pick-up truck.

Military chief confirms casualties

Sutthiroj Charoenthanasak, chief of Surin’s Karb Choeng district, said two BM-21 rockets fell on Ban Jorok village in Tambon Dan, severely injuring four.

He initially said two of the injured later died on their way to the hospital.

The other two injured were identified as an adult and a 12-year-old boy.

Al Jazeera subsequently reported at about 4:30pm on Thursday that the number of casualties from the gas station attack have reached six civilians.

The rockets reportedly fell on residential areas.

Another shell also reportedly fell outside the fence of Phanom Dong Rak hospital in Surin, which is another residential area.

Fortunately, the hospital had already evacuated all the staff and patients.

Bangkok Post, citing the Thai military, said the Cambodian military action was aimed at a Thai military base in the northeastern province of Surin, and launched rockets towards Sisaket.

So far, fighting across several areas has resulted in casualties, Khaosod English reported.

11 dead

Thailand's Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said the total number of Thai civilians killed has risen to 11.

He condemned the strike on the hospital and urged Cambodia to cease the violence.

Air strikes by Thailand

Following the shelling, six F-16 fighter jets were deployed from Ubon Ratchathani province in the late morning and hit two "Cambodian military targets on the ground", Bangkok Post reported, according to Royal Thai Army deputy spokesperson Col Ritcha Suksuwanon.

Preparations are underway to evacuate civilians as a precautionary measure in border areas of four provinces.

According to Cambodia's defence ministry, the jets had dropped two bombs on a road and the ministry "strongly condemned the reckless and brutal military aggression", ABC News reported.

About Jul. 24 conflict

According to Thai media, the conflict began shortly after 7am.

Thai authorities are adamant that Cambodia initiated the attack after artillery and small-arms fire were exchanged near the Khao Phra Wihan area in Sisaket.

The Thai army said its forces heard an unmanned aerial vehicle before seeing six armed Cambodian soldiers moving closer to Thailand’s station.

Thai soldiers tried to shout at them to defuse the situation, but the Cambodian side opened fire first, according to the Thai side.

Both sides accused each other of initiating the violence on Thursday.

A spokesperson for Cambodia's defence ministry said there had been an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops and Cambodian forces had responded in self-defence.

Cambodia’s defence ministry said that Thailand started the armed clash and Cambodia “acted strictly within the bounds of self-defence, responding to an unprovoked incursion by Thai troops that violated our territorial integrity”.

Clashes are now ongoing in at least six areas along the contested border.

In Ban Sao Thong Chai, Thai villagers apparently took shelter in makeshift bunkers built years ago during the 2011 border standoff.

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