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Published on November 26, 2007

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) workers last night collected about 1.1 million krathongs after Saturday night's celebration, 8.2 per cent higher than last year, Apirak said.

"The percentage of krathong made from natural materials including banana tree parts and bread is 15.4 per cent higher compared to last year. The number of krathong made from more environmental harmful products or synthetic foam decreased to 0.2 million, which is 27 per cent less than last year," he said.

"It is a positive trend. All of the collected krathong were taken to three garbage separating and treatment plants of the BMA."

In Chiang Mai, the celebration continued last night with the highlight being a giant krathong parade competition along the city's main road to the Ping River.

The local municipality also organised the release of 10,000 small krathong into the Ping River to mark the last day of the festival, in which tens of thousands of local residents and tourists joined in.

In Phuket, one man was reported killed after he continued setting off firecrackers at the city's night recreation park, Saphan Hin. Local police said he was killed by a group of teenagers who were sitting nearby and were disturbed by the man.

In Pattaya, two foreigners were reported to have been seriously injured from lighting firecracker at a beer bar on Pattaya beach. The two tourists are Dutchman Marinus Louwerse, 62, and German Haasolap Hass, 52. Witnesses said the two foreigners had bought large firecrackers and were injured when they tried to light them. They were taken to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.