"95 Deaths in Just 3 Days"... Songkran Again Under Scrutiny as the "Most Dangerous Week"

Trouble Mounts Over Accidents and Incidents During Thailand’s Songkran Festival

Although Songkran is Thailand's world-renowned holiday and festival, it has once again come under scrutiny this year as nearly 100 people lost their lives in just three days, tainting the festivities with numerous accidents as in previous years.

According to Thai media outlets such as the Bangkok Post on April 14 (local time), a total of 515 traffic accidents occurred over the three-day holiday period leading up to the Songkran festival from April 10 to 12. During this period, 95 people died, and 486 were injured.

Tourists and locals gathered at the Thai 'Songkran' Festival on the 13th (local time). Photo by AP Yonhap News

Authorities stated that 46% of all traffic accidents were attributed to speeding, making it the leading cause. The second most frequent cause was drunk driving, accounting for 24.5%. In addition, 77% of all traffic accidents involved motorcycles.

During the same period, a total of 1,750 drivers were convicted of traffic-related law violations, and 92% of them were charged with drunk driving.

Songkran is Thailand’s celebration of the New Year. It is listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and originated from the tradition of cleansing Buddha statues with water for purification. During the festival, Thai citizens splash water on one another to wash away bad luck and wish for blessings. This “water gun fight” is internationally recognized, and every year, both locals and tourists gather to create a spectacular scene of spraying water at each other during the Songkran festival.

However, the Songkran festival period is also marked by ongoing controversy due to the surge in incidents and accidents. Thai media often refer to the week before and after the Songkran festival as the “dangerous week,” highlighting the number of incidents and accidents that occur during this time. Last year, 1,539 traffic accidents were recorded during the week surrounding the Songkran festival, resulting in 253 fatalities.

Serious crimes such as sexual assault, assault, and drug use have also reportedly increased during this period. In response, authorities have implemented measures to prevent traffic accidents and crimes. During the Songkran festival, crackdowns on drunk driving and not wearing helmets have been intensified, and the sale of alcohol to minors has been strictly prohibited.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.