Four-nation Songkran festivity held in Thai North

CHIANG RAI, THAILAND, April 17 (TNA) - A four-nation Songkran festivity has been held in Chiang Rai Province in the Thai North, attracting both Thais and celebrants from neighbouring Laos, Myanmar and even southern China. The cross-border water splashing festivity, held in Chiang Saen District adjacent to the Golden Triangle, remained active on Friday, the second day of the three-day celebration, as tourists from the three neighbouring countries continued to cross the border to join. Although annual Songkran celebrations recently ended in several Thai areas, Chiang Saen-Golden Triangle Road has been particularly packed with international teenagers to enjoy water splashing along the Mekong River. A boat rowing competition has also been organised in Chiang Saen concurrently, in which the winner will be presented a trophy during the closing ceremony of the four-nation Songkran Festival on April 18. Meanwhile, the ad-hoc Road Safety Centre, set up by the Thai Ministry of Interior's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, reported that there were 3,373 road accidents nationwide during the seven-dangerous days of this year's Songkran or Traditional Thai New Year Festival, set from April 9-15, with 364 deaths and 3,559 injuries, higher than last year when 2,992 accidents were recorded with 322 deaths and 3,225 injuries. (TNA)