SISAKET – Intense fighting between Thailand and Cambodia has continued for a third consecutive day, despite repeated calls for a ceasefire and diplomatic negotiations. The conflict, the worst between the two Southeast Asian nations in over a decade, has left at least 30 people dead and displaced more than 130,000 residents.

Hostilities first erupted in late May following the death of a Cambodian soldier during a brief skirmish. Tensions escalated rapidly, prompting both countries to reinforce troops along their long-disputed border and sparking a full-scale diplomatic crisis.

On Saturday, Thailand’s navy reported new clashes in Trat, a coastal province over 100 kilometers from previous conflict zones, signaling a potential expansion of the violence.

Thailand’s casualty toll remains at 19, while Cambodia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the deaths of five soldiers and eight civilians. The situation has triggered mass evacuations in border areas such as Sisaket, where local residents described towns as nearly deserted.

“My hotel is still open for people fleeing the border, but nearly everyone else has left,” said Chianuwat Thalalai, a hotel employee in the Kanthralak district.

At a United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday, Thailand accused Cambodia of planting land mines on Thai territory and initiating attacks earlier in the week. Bangkok’s envoy, Cherdchai Chaivaivid, urged Cambodia to cease hostilities and return to peaceful dialogue.

Cambodia, in turn, accused Thailand of launching an “unprovoked and unlawful military assault” and condemned what it described as deliberate troop mobilisations near the border. The Cambodian government appealed to the international community to condemn Thailand’s actions and prevent further escalation.

While Cambodia has called on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to intervene, Thailand maintains it does not recognise the court’s jurisdiction over this dispute and prefers a bilateral resolution.

The two nations have a history of border disagreements, particularly concerning areas around ancient temple sites like Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom. Although the ICJ awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia in 1962, tensions reignited in 2008 when Cambodia sought to register the site as a UNESCO World Heritage landmark, leading to multiple deadly clashes in the years since.

The latest violence has further strained Thailand’s already fragile coalition government and raised fears of prolonged conflict if diplomatic efforts fail to de-escalate the situation.