BEIJING - China witnessed 547 deaths in road accidents during the week-long Spring Festival holiday (from Jan 22 to Jan 28), a year-on-year decline of 34.3 percent, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
Another 2,080 people were injured in the past week's 1,795 road accidents, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website Saturday.
Among the dead, 16 were killed in 30 traffic accidents triggered by drunk driving, respectively down 67 percent and 61 percent from last year, according to the ministry.
It also said cases of fire outbreak in the traditional Chinese holiday reached 2,706, causing five deaths and property damage valued at over 18 million yuan ($2.84 million).
