Thirty-six people were killed in traffic accidents across Vietnam on the holiday weekend marking the country’s National Day (September 2).

Fifty traffic accidents killed 36 people and injured 42 others, according to the National Committee for Traffic Safety.

Among them, 35 occurred on Sunday, resulting in the death of 22 people and injuries to 33 others.

Most were recorded on the streets throughout the country.

Traffic police units dealt with over 3,200 violations, writing fines worth more than VND2.54 billion (US$ 111,675) and confiscating 18 cars, 325 motorcycles, and 243 driver's licenses.

The hotline of the National Committee for Traffic Safety received some 30 reports on the traffic situation and congestion at several known hotpots.

At around 7:30 am on Sunday, the SE3 train en route from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City collided with an excavator in the north-central province of Quang Binh.

The crash caused several carriages of the train to be knocked off the railway, while the driver of the excavator was slightly wounded.

The north-to-south railway was paralyzed until the evening of the same day.

Over 90 passengers aboard the train were transported to the Dong Hoi Station in Quang Binh to continue their journey.

The accident was put down to human error, as the  excavator driver was not paying attention when he crossed the railroad, the captain of the train said, adding that he had managed to pull the break and slow down the train prior to the collision.

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