Armed clashes on the remote, disputed border between Cambodia and Thailand killed at least 12 people on Thursday, in a dramatic escalation of tensions that threatens to erupt into a broader conflict.

Cambodian officials have reported another 12 people killed as a result of the ongoing border dispute with Thailand, with the death toll on both sides now standing at 32, as fears grow that the Southeast Asian neighbours may become engulfed in an extended conflict.

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to a ceasefire following days of border clashes which claimed dozens of lives and displaced nearly 300,000 people.