• Three people were killed and several injured in a lightning strike at Angkor Wat.
• The incident occurred while they sought shelter around the main temple.
• Authorities, including the Cambodian Red Cross, are providing support to the victims' families.
• The government has requested the removal of negative online posts about the incident.
• Concerns over human rights and information control under current leadership are also highlighted.

Three people were killed and several others injured when they were struck by lightning while visiting Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat temple complex. The victims had been seeking shelter around the main temple when the lightning struck late Friday afternoon. Videos posted on social media captured ambulances arriving at the scene and onlookers assisting injured individuals. Other footage showed multiple people receiving medical treatment at nearby hospitals, according to Channel News Asia, CBS News, India Times, and South China Morning Post.

In response to the tragedy, Cambodia's Minister of Tourism, Hout Hak, urged individuals to remove online posts about the incident, citing concerns that “negative information” could harm the country's tourism sector. Although authorities have not publicly released detailed information, an official confirmed that the fatalities involved three Cambodians, including a 34-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman, according to CBS News and South China Morning Post.

The Cambodian Red Cross has mentioned they provided care packages to the victims' families but did not elaborate further. Official comments from Angkor Wat representatives and regional health officials have not been forthcoming, raising questions about transparency, particularly in light of the government's tight control over information, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

Angkor Wat is a significant tourist attraction that draws approximately 2.5 million visitors annually and is featured on Cambodia's national flag. UNESCO recognizes it as one of Southeast Asia's most important archaeological sites, comprising the ruins of Khmer Empire capitals from the 9th to 15th centuries. The Cambodian government continues to develop the area to boost tourism, including a $1.1 billion airport project, despite ongoing critiques regarding the voluntary relocation of some 10,000 families from the area, according to CBS News and South China Morning Post.