LA PAZ (TIP): Carnival festivities in Bolivia left 70 people dead, most of them in road accidents but at least 15 in acts of violence, the government said march 5. Four days of partying at the carnival, an annual pre- Lenten event that draws thousands of people onto the streets, ended on Tuesday. Police reported 70 deaths, including 37 in traffic accidents, said Interior Minister Carlos Romero. That toll did not include another five people killed in celebrations in the city of Oruro.

A metal bridge in that city collapsed under the weight of huge crowds, also leaving dozens injured. Romero said that tragedy — at festivities with more than 30,000 dancers and 6,000 musicians — had been treated separately from the tally of violent crime or bloodshed. About 350,000 people turned out for carnival festivities in Oruro alone, authorities said.