Thailand's new year death toll rises to 628
Thailand had its worst lunar New Year holiday on record, with the death toll from traffic and other accidents during the festival rising to 628, the Public Health Ministry said Monday.
‘‘This is the worst ever. At least five people were killed and 300 injured every hour,’’ said national police spokesman Major General Phongsapat Phongchareon.
Traffic accidents accounted for 438 of the fatalities and 25,255 of the 48,626 injuries recorded since Thursday, a Health Ministry statement said.
Others were killed or injured in drunken quarrels, from electrocution, drowning and other festival-related accidents, the statement said.
Last year, 164 people died during the holiday period.
Officials said the higher toll was partly due to improved recording of accidents.
During Songkran, as the Thai New Year is known, it is traditional for revellers to sprinkle or throw water at each other to wash away bad spirits and wish for plentiful rain for the coming rice growing season.
The roads are crowded with millions of Thais who travel to their home provinces to be with their extended families. In recent years, celebrations have grown more raucous.
Phongsapat said he believed the long holiday extended two days because it coincided with the weekend was to blame for the huge toll, which was expected to rise. Thais go back to work on Wednesday.
