VIENTIANE, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people were killed and some 225 others injured in road accidents during the four days of New Year celebrations, Lao Traffic Police Department said Tuesday.
Only on Dec. 31, 53 road accidents were reported, leaving eight people dead and 97 others injured.
Lao police said road accidents doubled compared with the same period last year, though a number of police officers were stationed at areas prone to road accidents and alcohol checkpoints were set up.
"They attributed the increase in road accidents to the additional days of the celebration this year," said the Lao News Agency on Tuesday.
