At least 188 people were killed and 2,786 others were injured in road accidents in Thailand from April 11 to 15, the first five days of Thai traditional Songkran Festival holiday, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Saturday.

On Friday along, There were 443 road accidents, causing 40 deaths and injuring another 470 people, according to the Department.

The department blamed speeding and alcohol for most of the accidents.

Songkran Festival, the traditional Thai new-year festival which is famous for water-splashing celebrations, falls on April 13-17 this year. Many Thais started to leave or enter cities since early this week.

Hundreds of people were killed each year in road accidents during Songkran festive. Motorcycles are usually involved in most of these road accidents, followed by pick-up trucks.