Accidents spoil Loy Krathong festivities

Young boy loses hand in Chiang Mai

Security and safety warnings have dominated this year's Loy Krathong festival with dozens of cautions and prohibitions issued by state authorities. But that could not bar Thais from joining the centuries-old tradition of paying respect to the river goddess.

Despite warnings about accidents, especially from fireworks, many cases of injuries caused by firecrackers were reported yesterday.

The most serious case concerned a 12-year-old boy in Chiang Mai who lost his right hand and sustained a serious injury to his right eye and the right side of his body.

Narubet Tomtui from Chiang Mai's Phrao district made his own big fire-cracker. He lit it and it exploded, blowing his right hand into pieces. His doctor at Nakhon Ping Hospital decided to cut off his right hand at the wrist.

The explosion also damaged his right eye and the right side of his body. The doctor said the boy is likely to lose the sight in his right eye as well.

Another seven-year-old boy in the same province sustained a severe wound to his left hand after he lit a firecracker at a Loy Krathong fair.

Dr Chatchai Khoonrangsisomboon, assistant director of the hospital, said eight patients injured by firecrackers had been brought to his hospital during the festival. Most had severe wounds to their hands, arms and eyes.

In other cities, many people went out to celebrate the lantern floating festival as usual.

But police in every province opted to enforce stricter security measures than in past years.

They warned revellers of pick-pocketing and other crimes, while ordering operators of love motels to check clients to screen out those under age.

In Koh Pha-ngan in Surat Thani, where tourists celebrated a Full Moon Party, police yesterday arrested a gang of 10 Iranians led by Kaya Torabipur which allegedly stole tourists' valuables from their hotel rooms.

Koh Pha-ngan police said they had tracked the gang for almost a year before they resurfaced to commit crimes during the full moon.

In three southern border provinces, authorities beefed up security in town centres and Loy Krathong fair venues around the clock, especially in Yala's Betong district where Malaysian tourists had booked all the hotel rooms.

In Bangkok, major Loy Krathong festivals were held on the banks of the Chao Phraya river.

Deputy Bangkok city clerk Anan Siripassaraporn, chairman of the 2007 Loy Krathong accident prevention committee, said city police and disaster prevention officers were stationed at all piers along the Chao Phraya river. They stopped young children from jumping into the water to collect change which revellers put in lanterns before casting them out onto the river.

Politics also added colour to this year's festival as many politicians running in the Dec 23 election seized the opportunity to introduce themselves to revellers.

Bangkok Post

Two foreigners injured by fireworks in Pattaya

Chon Buri - Two foreigners were injured when a firework they lit up exploded and hit them Loy Krathong night, police said.

The two were identified as Marinus Louwerse, 62, a Dutch, and his German friend, Haasolap Haas, 52.

The accident happened at 12:30 am on Pattaya Beach.

The Nation

Two foreigners injured by fireworks in Pattaya

Chon Buri - Two foreigners were injured when a firework they lit up exploded and hit them Loy Krathong night, police said.

The two were identified as Marinus Louwerse, 62, a Dutch, and his German friend, Haasolap Haas, 52.

The accident happened at 12:30 am on Pattaya Beach.

The Nation

This is now being reported as fireworks were THROWN at the tourists by a group of Thai teenagers ( who fled the scene ) and thus injuries were caused to the foreigners.

Two foreigners injured by fireworks in Pattaya

Chon Buri - Two foreigners were injured when a firework they lit up exploded and hit them Loy Krathong night, police said.

The two were identified as Marinus Louwerse, 62, a Dutch, and his German friend, Haasolap Haas, 52.

The accident happened at 12:30 am on Pattaya Beach.

The Nation

This is now being reported as fireworks were THROWN at the tourists by a group of Thai teenagers ( who fled the scene ) and thus injuries were caused to the foreigners.

same thing every year ,give a thai a drink ,give him a firework ,he'll do a stupid thing ........