The death toll in the escalating border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has risen to 32, with Cambodian officials reporting 12 additional fatalities on Saturday. The violence, which intensified after a landmine explosion wounded five Thai soldiers, has displaced tens of thousands and raised fears of a prolonged conflict.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, Gen. Maly Socheata, confirmed seven civilian and five soldier deaths over two days of fighting. Thailand reported six soldiers and 13 civilians, including children, killed, with 29 soldiers and 30 civilians wounded. The clashes, centered around the disputed Ta Muen Thom temple, involve heavy artillery and rocket fire, with both sides accusing each other of targeting civilians.

Over 58,000 Thais and 23,000 Cambodians have fled to temporary shelters. Evacuees like Pornpan Sooksai, a seamstress who fled with her cats, described the terror of sudden shelling. “I heard boom, boom, and we ran,” she said. In Cambodia, villages are deserted, with some residents hiding in makeshift bunkers or seeking refuge in temples.

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The U.N. Security Council urged restraint and a diplomatic resolution during an emergency meeting, while Malaysia, chairing ASEAN, offered to mediate. Cambodian Ambassador Chhea Keo called for an immediate ceasefire, denying accusations of aggression. Thailand’s acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, accused Cambodia of war crimes, citing civilian deaths and hospital damage.

The conflict, rooted in a decades-long border dispute, marks a rare clash between ASEAN members. Despite a reported ceasefire agreement, both nations have yet to withdraw troops, leaving villagers like 74-year-old Veng Chin pleading for peace to return to their homes.

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