442 killed, 3,600 injured in Thailand's road accidents during festival

BANGKOK - A total of 442 people have been reportedly killed in road accidents throughout Thailand during the week-long Songkran holiday, which ended on Sunday, said a government agency on Monday.

According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation's Road Safety Center, a total of 3,447 road accidents were reported during Songkran festival nationwide with 34 percent of the total 442 deaths reportedly due to alcohol driving and 33 percent due to speeding.

Meanwhile, a total of 3,656 people were reportedly injured in road mishaps during the nationwide water-splashing festival from April 11 until April 17.

Thai capital Bangkok and Nakorn Ratchasima province had the highest toll of 19 deaths each while Chiang Mai province had the largest number of 175 injuries among all the provinces throughout the country.

According to the Road Safety Center, 80 percent of the Songkran road mishaps involved motorcyclists and their passengers.