Nearly 50,000 people - a third of the population - are reported to have fled the Cambodian resort of Sihanoukville in a scare over toxic waste.

The deaths of two local residents have been blamed on several thousand tonnes of toxic waste imported from Taiwan and dumped about six kilometres outside the city.

The Cambodian authorities say the effects of the waste have been contained, and they've appealed to remaining residents not to join the exodus.

Four people died in car crashes on Monday as they left the city in heavy rain.

At the weekend, protesters sacked the offices of local officials who allowed the waste to enter Cambodia from Taiwan.