Bangkok Increases Safety During Loy Krathong

[george]

Bangkok increases safety measures during Loy Krathong festival

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok’s municipal authorities plan to step up safety precautions on all the city’s piers during the Loy Krathong night tomorrow.

These measures are to be taken as a result of the Bangkok’s governor, Apirak Kosayothin, safety inspection tour of the piers along the Chao Phraya River on Wednesday, two days before the Loy Krathong festival on 26 November.

Fifteen city districts, with banks on the river or big canals, have prepared places for people to celebrate the 'festival of light', or the 'full moon festival', including piers, landings and floating landings which are expected to be crammed with people wishing to launch their kratongs onto the river.

The governor has ordered the increased security and safety measures on the evening of Loy Krathong.

Thousands of municipal officials, paramedics, police and volunteers will on duty in each district.

Almost 3,000 city cleaners with 100 trucks and more than 150 boats will be ready to clean up the krathongs and other objects in Bangkok’s waterways.

They will start work at 10 p.m. on Friday night and work through to the next morning.

The festival usually generates tonnes of waste and trash -- banana leaves, paper, foam and plastic used to make the krathongs.

If this is not cleared away quickly it will block the city’s waterways, and could cause substantial environmental damages.

-- TNA 2004-11-25