Asia-Pacific

79 dead in road accidents since Thai holidays started

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-31 19:38

BANGKOK - A total of 79 people have been killed in road accidents during the first two days of the seven-day New Year festival from December 29 to January 4, Wibul Sanguanpong, director-general of the Civil Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, announced on Friday.

There were 1,012 road accidents on December 29 and 30, leading to 79 deaths and 1,095 injuries, Wibul said.

On December 30, there were 619 road accidents, killing 55 people and injuring 670 others, Wibul said.

Wibul said the major causes of accidents were drunk-driving (39. 42 percent) and speeding (22.13 percent). About 82.20 percent of the accidents were involved with motorcycles, he said.