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Holiday accidents claim 37 lives in Venezuela
At least 37 people have been killed and about 300 injured in traffic accidents across Venezuela since the Carnival has begun, national emergency officials have said.
- IANS
- Published: 23:31 February 4, 2008
Caracas: At least 37 people have been killed and about 300 injured in traffic accidents across Venezuela since the Carnival has begun, national emergency officials have said.
The Carnival is an annual festival held for four days and marks the beginning of Lent or the 40-day liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter.
A total of 1,028 traffic accidents have been reported nationwide between Friday morning and Sunday midnight, said General Antonio Rivero, head of the national emergency services agency.
He said that 37 people were killed in separate accidents reported from across the country during the period.
However, he added that the number of deaths this time is 4.6 per cent lower than the casualties reported last year during the Carnival, EFE news agency reported yesterday.
According to the official, a public transportation vehicle flipped over on a highway in the eastern part of the country on Saturday, killing eight and injuring dozens more.
In another major accident the same day, a bus tumbled down western highway, killing seven people and injuring 30, he said.
An estimated 13 million people are said to be travelling in Venezuela during the Carnival celebrations.
Authorities have set up 2,000 checkpoints and some 9,000 aerial, maritime and land vigilance units as part of an operation to ensure safe traffic during the carnival, Rivero said.
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