Road accidents during the six days of the Tet (Lunar New Year) festivalstarting on February 2 resulted in 288 persons being killed and 359others injured.
According to preliminary statistics released by the Railways and RoadPolice Department under the Ministry of Public Security, 373 roadaccidents were recorded during the period, 24 cases less than last year.
Almost all the victims of traffic accidents were found to have alcohol in their blood.
Themost serious accident occurred on February 6 in the southern city ofDong Nai when a train on the North-South route ploughed into fourtaxies, 1 car and one van. The accident killed two people and injured 26others.
In Ho Chi Minh City, traffic accidents saw a decreasecompared to last year, but the number of fires increased to 22, withhalf caused by burning incense./.