7 deaths, 88 injuries reported in Wednesday riot

BANGKOK, 20 May 2010 (NNT) –Seven fatalities and 88 injuries were reported in riots in Bangkok as of 20 May 2010 at 08.50 hrs, according to the Emergency Medical Institute of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) or Erawan Center.

The center reported that there were a total of 95 casualties in riots on 19 May 2010 alone after core leaders of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) announced to stop the prolonged street-protest at Ratchapasong Intersection in Bangkok.

Among the injuries were three foreigners, including a Canadian, an English, and one person whose nationality remains unidentified. An Italian reporter, later identified as Mr Polenghi Fabio, 48, died from a gunshot in the abdomen.

The Erawan Center admitted that the medical staff could not operate smoothly on Thursday morning as some ill-intentioned people tried to use guns against operations of staff who were trying to transport injured people out from the dangerous zones.