191 Dead in Thailand’s Songkran Water Festival
- Thailand has recorded 191 road deaths and 911 injuries during the first five days of the Songkran festival, a week-long celebration marking the Thai New Year.
- According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the period from April 10 to April 14 saw a total of 951 accidents.
- Authorities have identified speeding as the leading cause of death, accounting for just under 42 per cent of fatalities.
Thailand has recorded 191 road deaths and 911 injuries during the first five days of the Songkran festival, a week-long celebration marking the Thai New Year. The figures, released on April 14, 2026, by the Road Safety Directing Centre, highlight a significant surge in fatalities coinciding with the event often described as the world’s largest water fight
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According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the period from April 10 to April 14 saw a total of 951 accidents. The carnage is largely attributed to a mass exodus from major cities, including Bangkok, as millions of people travel to their home provinces to celebrate with their families.
Primary Causes of Fatalities
Authorities have identified speeding as the leading cause of death, accounting for just under 42 per cent of fatalities. Drunk driving followed as the second most prominent cause, contributing to 27.4 per cent of the deaths. Other contributing factors include reckless behavior and a failure to wear safety helmets.
Motorcycles were the vehicles most frequently involved in the crashes. The Road Accident Victims Protection Company noted that while Thailand averages 38 road deaths per day throughout the calendar year, there is a substantial increase during the Songkran period, which is nicknamed the seven dangerous days
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The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that the highest number of accidents occurred between 3:01 p.m. And 6:00 p.m.
Regional Impact and Statistics
Bangkok recorded the highest cumulative death toll during the first five days of the campaign, with 16 fatalities. On the first day of celebrations alone, 51 people died in road incidents.
On April 14, the fifth day of the safety campaign, there were 192 road accidents resulting in 30 deaths and 202 injuries. For that specific day, Pathum Thani recorded the highest number of deaths with three fatalities, while Phrae recorded the highest number of accidents with 16 cases and 18 injuries.
Cumulatively over the five-day period, Phrae recorded the highest number of accidents at 45 and the highest number of injuries at 47.
Government Response and Safety Outlook
The Thai government implemented a road safety campaign involving the enforcement of stricter drunk driving laws and an increase in police checkpoints. Despite these measures, Pol Lt Gen Rutthaphon Naowarat, the Justice Minister and chairman of the press briefing, confirmed the continued high rate of accidents.
The Justice Minister stated that April 15 would be the final public holiday of the festival. Authorities expected heavy traffic as large numbers of people began returning to Bangkok and other major provinces, or continued traveling within tourist areas, thereby increasing the risk of further accidents.
The high road toll reflects a broader systemic issue; according to the World Health Organization, Thailand is currently ranked as the ninth most-deadly nation for road crashes among its member countries.