PHNOM PENH, Nov 25, 2010 (AFP) - The official death toll from a festival stampede in the Cambodian capital now stands at 347, the social affairs minister said Thursday, after earlier putting the figure at 456.
"The total number of dead victims is 347," said a letter signed by Social Affairs Minister Ith Samheng, who sits on a committee investigating the disaster.
It said 221 of the victims were women.
The toll was revised following a late-night meeting between committee members, Prime Minister Hun Sen, Phnom Penh and provincial authorities.
"We took out the overlapping figures" from some provinces, senior minister Om Yentieng, who sits on the investigating committee, told reporters at a mourning ceremony for the victims in the capital.
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