Chinese money transformed a sleepy beach town in Cambodia. Then came disaster

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia - Ros Sitha was asleep with dozens of other construction workers on the unfinished second floor of the hotel they were building in the heart of this booming coastal city. The Chinese owners had let the workers live on site - common practice in a city where nearly every block is under redevelopment.

Shortly before dawn, the 40-year-old was jolted awake by a loud crack from the floors above, then another.

Seconds later, the structure gave way, toppling to one side and trapping more than 50 workers beneath hunks of concrete and twisted metal.

More than two days later, Ros Sitha was the last of 26 survivors to be pulled to safety. At least 28 Cambodians were killed, making it the country's deadliest building disaster in decades.

For many Cambodians, the June 22 collapse and its aftermath were confirmation that their government cared more about courting Chinese investment than it did about