Tourists ignore Songkran water-fight ban on Bangkok’s Khaosan Road

13 Sept 21:25 Key points summarised by AI

Despite a ban by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, large numbers of locals and foreign tourists engaged in Songkran water fights on Khaosan Road and Phuket's Bang La Walking Street.
The ban, in its third year, aimed to prevent COVID-19 spread, with officials ordering businesses to prohibit water splashing and threatening 100,000 baht fines for defiance.
Many participants on Khaosan Road ignored social distancing and mask mandates, prompting district officials to order businesses to close by midnight due to non-compliance with preventive measures.
The widespread disregard for the ban occurred as Thailand recorded 24,134 new COVID-19 infections and a new high of 115 deaths within 24 hours, underscoring public health risks.

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