Surin, 25 July

Tens of thousands of people sought refuge on Friday as border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered a second day, heightening fears of a broader conflict.

The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis later Friday in New York, while Malaysia, which chairs a regional bloc that includes both countries, called for an end to hostilities and offered to mediate.

The Health Ministry on Friday said more than 58,000 have fled from villages to temporary shelters in four affected Thai border provinces, while Cambodian authorities said more than 4,000 people have evacuated from areas near the border.

The fighting has killed at least 14 people in Thailand, while Cambodia confirmed its first fatality on Friday.

Tensions over a disputed border area erupted into fighting after a land mine explosion along the border, wounding five Thai soldiers on Wednesday.

Clashes break out across border areas.

The Thai military reported clashes early Friday in multiple areas, including along the border at Chong Bok and Phu Makhuea in Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani province, at Phanom Dong Rak in Surin province, and near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple. Associated Press reporters near the border could hear sounds of artillery from early morning hours.

The Thai army said Cambodian forces had used heavy artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rocket launchers, prompting what Thai officials described as “appropriate supporting fire” in return.

Thailand said one soldier and 13 civilians were killed, including children, while 15 soldiers and 30 civilians were wounded.

Cambodia's chief official in Oddar Meanchey province, Gen. Khov Ly, said a man died instantly Thursday after a Thai rocket hit a Buddhist pagoda where he was hiding. At least four civilians were also wounded in Thursday's fighting there.

Thailand's army on Friday denied it targeted civilian sites in Cambodia, and accused Cambodia of using “human shields” by positioning its weapons near residential areas.

ASEAN chair calls for calm

The conflict marks a rare instance of armed confrontation between member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, though Thailand has tangled with Cambodia before over the border and has had sporadic skirmishes with its western neighbour, Myanmar.

Malaysia, the current ASEAN chair, expressed concern.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Thursday he spoke to both Cambodian leader Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and urged them to open space for “peaceful dialogue and diplomatic resolution.” Malaysia is willing to facilitate talks, he said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also called for restraint and urged both countries to resolve disputes through dialogue, according to UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

A longstanding border problem

Border tensions between the two nations are not new. Their 800-kilometre frontier has been disputed for decades, with past confrontations typically limited and brief. The last major flare-up in 2011 left 20 dead.

The current tensions broke out in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation. The two countries said afterwards they agreed to de-escalate the situation, but both continued to implement or threaten measures, including trade and travel restrictions, keeping tensions high.

But things got worse when a land mine wounded five Thai soldiers on Wednesday. That led Bangkok to withdraw its ambassador from Cambodia and expel Cambodia's envoy to Thailand. Thailand also sealed all land border crossings and urged its citizens to leave Cambodia. Officials said all seven Thai airlines were willing to help evacuate nationals.

Cambodia retaliated by downgrading diplomatic ties and recalling all Cambodian staff from its embassy in Bangkok.

On Thursday, clashes broke out along the border.

Cambodia claimed those bombs landed near the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site that has been at the centre of past disputes. Authorities in Phnom Penh released photos they said showed damage to the site and pledged to seek international justice.