Thailand declares martial law in eight border districts

Thailand declared martial law in eight districts bordering Cambodia on Friday following clashes between the two Southeast Asian neighbors for the second day in a row.

"Martial law is now in effect in seven districts of Chanthaburi and one district of Trat," said Apichart Sapprasert, the Thai army chief in these two provinces located near the border with Cambodia.

Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned Friday that the conflict with Cambodia could "turn into a war," shortly before an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, at a time when the clashes have already forced the evacuation and displacement of nearly 140,000 Thais.

"We tried to reach a compromise because we are neighbors, but we instructed the Thai army to act immediately in case of emergency," he added.

Over the past two days, the border conflict between the two countries has seen a level of violence not seen since 2011 , involving fighter jets, tanks, ground troops and artillery fire.

Bangkok and Phnom Penh have been at a standoff since the death of a Cambodian soldier in late May during a nighttime gun battle in a disputed area of their shared border, nicknamed the "Emerald Triangle."

So far, Thailand has recorded 15 deaths, while Cambodia has recorded one . Journalists from the French news agency AFP saw four Cambodian soldiers being treated in the hospital, as well as three civilians hospitalized with shrapnel wounds.

At the request of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, the United Nations Security Council will meet in emergency mode in New York this Friday.