16.04.2026 13:56
During the first 3 days of the Songkran Festival, known as the 'world's largest water fight' in Thailand, 191 people lost their lives, 951 accidents occurred, and 911 people were injured. The festival, famous for its fun water fights, made headlines this year, as in previous years, with a heavy toll due to excessive speed, alcohol, and heavy traffic.
The Songkran Festival, celebrated with enthusiasm every year in Thailand, made headlines this year due to increasing deaths. In the first 3 days of the festival, known as the world's largest water fight, 191 people lost their lives, 951 traffic accidents occurred, and 911 people were injured.
SPEED AND ALCOHOL BROUGHT DISASTER
Authorities stated that the main causes of the accidents were excessive speed and drunk driving. On the first day, 51 people died in accidents, with approximately 42% of the deaths attributed to speed and 27.4% to alcohol.
"THE MOST DANGEROUS 7 DAYS" WARNING
The Songkran period is referred to as "the most dangerous 7 days" in the country. Not wearing helmets and risky driving behaviors are also cited as major factors increasing deaths. It was reported that the time period with the highest number of accidents is between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM.
THOUSANDS HIT THE ROAD EVERY YEAR
During the festival, symbolizing the Thai New Year, millions of people take to the roads from major cities like Bangkok to return to their hometowns. This congestion brings along traffic accidents.
ONE OF THE RISKIEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD
According to World Health Organization data, Thailand ranks 9th among countries with the highest death rates in traffic accidents. While an average of 38 traffic deaths occur daily throughout the year, this number increases significantly during the festival period.
TOURISM REVENUE HIGH, COST HEAVY
The festival, expected to be attended by approximately 500,000 foreign tourists, is projected to generate 30.4 billion baht (about 940 million dollars) in revenue for the country's economy. However, the festival, synonymous with fun, is overshadowed by hundreds of lives lost every year.
INTERVENTION WITH FOREIGN TOURISTS
It was reported that 7 French tourists who violated the rules within the scope of the festival were detained on the grounds of obstructing traffic.