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158 die in Lunar New Year road accidents

HANOI: A total of 158 people died and 855 were injured in road accidents in Vietnam over the Lunar New Year holiday, according to official figures published on Friday by state media.

The number of deaths was a significant increase on the figure of 111 registered last year. The total number of accidents was 736, against 400 last year.

Drunk driving was the most common cause of the accidents, according to police. The increase in fatalities came despite a police crackdown on illegal motorbike races which are traditionally organised in Vietnamese cities at this time of year. AFP