Bomb blasts in Burma kill nine and injure 75 during festivities

THREE bombs ripped through traditional New Year festivities in Rangoon, the biggest city in Burma, yesterday, killing nine people and injuring 75 others, officials and state television said.

There was no indication who was behind the blasts, which occurred at about 3pm near some 20 pavilions erected for the celebrations at the sprawling Kandawgyi Lake.

Burma is celebrating the annual four-day water festival, when people drench each other with water to usher in the Burmese New Year on Saturday.

State television and radio put the death toll at eight — five men and three women. It said 75 people, including 16 women, were injured. However, a hospital official said nine people were killed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to release information.

The conflicting figures could not be immediately reconciled.