PHNOM PENH: At least four people have died in Koh Kong province in 2025 after being crushed by falling Samrong (Scaphium affine), or malva nut trees, which they had cut down to harvest and sell the fruits.
The most recent case involved a husband and wife who died on Sunday (April 20), while in the forest near Phnom Kampong Blou, Tuol Pur village, in Botum Sakor district’s Ta Nuon commune. Their bodies were only discovered two days later, on the night of April 22, beneath a fallen tree.
The couple had been reported missing, and the police were actively searching for them.
The victims were identified as 37-year-old Ov Rith and his 41-year-old wife, Yan Sompors, residents of Andoung Teuk commune’s Chy Trech village, also in Botum Sakor district. After examining the bodies, authorities handed them over to the family for traditional funeral rites.
According to a police report, there have been three separate incidents in 2025 involving people dying after being crushed by Samrong trees during felling operations, resulting in four deaths in Koh Kong province.
The Ministry of Environment expressed condolences to the families of the deceased couple, noting that they died “after being crushed by a Samrong tree they had felled for its fruit”.
The ministry had already appealed to the public not to cut down the trees for fruit, in an April 7 notice. The ministry also urged relevant authorities to strictly enforce the law to prevent and crack down on illegal Samrong tree felling — especially during the fruit-harvesting season from March to April. The trees often grow in community forest areas, protected zones and national parks.
The ministry notice emphasised that this activity represents “a serious destruction of natural resources that could lead to the extinction of Cambodia’s Samrong tree species.” It violates articles 384 and 386 of the Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.
On April 23, the Ministry reiterated that cutting down the trees is illegal and threatens the biodiversity that provides environmental and economic value for future generations.
“A small number of irresponsible individuals are harvesting Samrong fruit by cutting down or damaging trees and branches, leading to serious loss of plant species, biodiversity, and undermining conservation and the sustainable livelihoods of local communities,” it stated.
Once again, the ministry appealed to law enforcement, government ministries, local authorities, the armed forces and all local communities to cooperate in enforcing the law.
The ministry also cited one of the points of Article 850 of the Environmental Code which states that anyone who fells, cuts, poisons, injures, damages, carves, excavates or destroys forest trees and wild plants which are classified as protected without permission shall be punished with imprisonment from 1 to 5 years and fined between 100 million to 500 million riel (approximately $25,000 to $125,000). Article 851 notes that some species are protected with sentences of 5 to 10 years. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
