Over 2,000 Casualties Occurred Over Five Days from the 11th to 15th
Frequent Brawls and Sexual Crimes Due to Drunkenness and Speeding
During Songkran, Thailand's largest holiday and known as the "world's biggest water festival," more than 200 people lost their lives in accidents. Despite the local government deploying hundreds of safety personnel and encouraging participation in alcohol-free events to ensure safety, they could not prevent the accidents. On the 16th, the Bangkok Post announced that during the five days of the Songkran festival from the 11th to the 15th, 206 people died and 1,593 were injured.
During Songkran, Thailand's largest holiday and known as the 'world's biggest water festival,' people are enjoying water gun play. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]
Songkran is Thailand's New Year holiday. Last December, UNESCO registered Songkran as an intangible cultural heritage. Thais, who regard the start of the new year as the time when the sun moves into Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, wash away bad luck by sprinkling purified water on Buddha statues or on their hands while making wishes. As part of this custom, during the Songkran holiday, water festivals are held in cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, where people splash water on each other or shoot water guns. Large water trucks and even elephants are mobilized. Around 500,000 foreign tourists visit Thailand annually to coincide with this period.
Songkran is the New Year festival of Thailand. Last December, UNESCO also registered Songkran as an intangible cultural heritage. Thai people, who consider the start of the New Year as the time when the sun moves into Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, sprinkle purified water on Buddha statues or hands to wash away bad luck and make wishes during this period. [Photo by AFP·Yonhap News]
During Songkran, large crowds gather in major cities, and the festival's excitement often leads to various incidents and accidents. The most common are traffic accidents. It is frequent for people to drive at high speeds or drive under the influence of alcohol in the festive atmosphere, resulting in injuries. Some aggressive participants spray water on moving cars or motorcycles, causing drivers to lose control and tragic accidents to occur. The Bangkok Post explained, "This year, motorcycle accidents accounted for 83.8% of all casualties during Songkran," adding that "speeding (43.2%) and drunk driving (23.9%) were the main causes." Last year, 252 people died due to drunk driving and speeding.
During the Songkran period, brawls and sexual crimes also occur frequently. In a survey conducted last year by a Thai civil society organization, 6 out of 10 male and female respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment during the Songkran period. [Photo by AFP·Yonhap News]
During this period, brawls and sexual crimes also frequently occur. In a survey conducted last year by a Thai civil society organization, 6 out of 10 male and female respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment during Songkran. On the 14th, while the festival was in full swing, a foreign tourist drowned after jumping into the Saen Saep Canal in downtown Bangkok to retrieve a water gun that had fallen into the water.
Earlier, ahead of this year's Songkran, the Thai government urged participants to enjoy the festival without alcohol, emphasizing that festival zones where drinking is prohibited are safer. To this end, 1,600 public officials and volunteers, including firefighters and nurses, were deployed in the capital Bangkok, and 600 police officers were assigned to the popular resort city of Pattaya. However, despite these stringent measures, this year also saw many casualties, and the festival could not shake off its reputation as a "dangerous festival."
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