Phnom Penh, April 14: As Khmer Rouge forces thrust into the western and north-western outskirts of Phnom Penh to-day, the city’s fall seemed imminent. They burned refugee camps, sending thousands of panic-stricken civilians pouring into the capital. Black clouds from the refugees’ burning huts rose over the city.
This morning Khmer Rouge forces advanced towards Pochentong airfield to the west of the City Centre. They overran the city’s main radio and tele-communication centre cutting of all communications with the outside world until an emergency transmitter in the city started operating.
Government troops withdrew to the barbed wire perimeter of the airfield.
Meanwhile, an estimated 1,000 Red Khmers slipped into the capital through Government defence lines, poised to attack the airfield.
People living in the residential suburbs of Tuol Kork started to panic and a rush started towards the City Centre. Government military police set up roadblocks to halt them.
Military police used butts of their weapons in a futile attempt to turn back the tide of ox carts, motorbikes and panic-stricken people clogging Route 3 between Phnom Penh and the airport.
The Japanese news agency Kyodo said a Cambodian Air Force T-28 fighter-bomber dropped two bombs on the military command headquarters about noon and flew away to the east.
Published – April 15, 2025 04:16 am IST