A ceiling collapse at a Cambodian shoe factory killed two workers Thursday, spurring a government vow to inspect all garment plants amid heightened safety fears after last month's disaster in Bangladesh. Local rescue teams, helped by soldiers, scrambled to search through the rubble of the fallen structure early Thursday, which appeared to have been on a mezzanine level laden with crates of trainers and canvas shoes.
Khem Pannara, district police chief for the area in the southern province of Kampong Speu, said two staff members were killed and at least 11 injured, some seriously, adding that the rescue operation had ended. He said the concrete ceiling had likely collapsed because it could not hold the weight of equipment stored on it due to "poor construction". The Cambodian government said the owner of the "Wing Star Shoes" factory, which employs more than 7,000 people, would have to take responsibility for the incident.