Six Australians injured as railing collapses at Han Chey pagoda in Cambodia

ABC / Kyodo News | 8 September 2014

Map: Cambodia

Six Australian tourists have been injured in Cambodia after a temple railing they leaned on collapsed, causing them to fall about four metres.

Two people suffered serious injuries in the accident at the Han Chey pagoda in Kompong Cham province, a reporter for the Phnom Penh Post said.

"All six of them were leaning on the banister on the stairs up to the temple, which is obviously decayed because the rock is so old," Chhay Channyda told the ABC.

"[The railing] fell through as they were leaning on it, which led them to fall back about four metres.

"Two of the six were seriously wounded - one injured their hands and the other had injuries on their legs and knees."

The accident happened about 9:30am (local time), Kompong Siem district police chief Pak Cheat said.

Four women and two men were taken to a provincial hospital with head and arm injuries that were not considered life threatening, he said.

Ms Channyda said the Phnom Penh Post had not spoken to the injured Australians, who have been named as Ian Nerntosh, 65, Heather Todd, 73, Sandra McIntosh, 65, Steven, 56, and Menzel, 63.

Han Chey pagoda, which can be reached either by road or by climbing up 295 steps, offers sweeping views of the adjacent Mekong River.

It is believed to be the first time an accident has happened at the ancient Buddhist temple, located about 150 kilometres east of the capital, Phnom Penh.