The Vegetarian Festival finished last night with an impressive street parade ceremony and many chaotic fireworks displays, resulting in a large increase in the number of people injured by firecrackers compared to last year.
Mrs Orachon said during last year’s festival 42 people were injured, but this year that number rose to 81, most of whom suffered eye, mouth and body injuries from firecrackers, plus burns. None were severely hurt.
“Last night we had the largest number of people injured from the firecrackers,” she said.
“Some of them were playing with firecrackers at their house, but most were injured from being hit while watching the street parades. Some people were hurt from firecrackers they lit themselves, and some were injured from others lighting them carelessly.”
Of the 81 injured, Ms Orachon said 27 were maa song who were taken to hospital (compared with 28 last year) with injuries from piercing themselves with objects. No one was hurt severely; most just needed stitches or had burns from during the fire walking ceremony.
“There were also two people who fainted during the parade. I really want to warn everyone about the danger of firecrackers, because there has been a huge increase in injuries this year.”