About 100 hurt in Manila's New Year

Thu, 02 Jan 1997, 00:00 WIB | Source: REUTERS

MANILA (Reuter): At least 100 people, including a five-year-
old child, were hurt by stray bullets and firecracker blasts
during New Year celebrations in Manila, government and hospital
officials said yesterday.

The number of injured, taken from the 10 biggest hospitals in
Manila, was significantly lower than last year, said Health
Secretary Carmencita Reodica, who led a campaign against the use
of locally-made firecrackers to mark the New Year.

Last year, 13 people died and more than 800 were injured by
firecracker blasts.

Filipinos believe loud blasts drive away bad luck and evil
spirits that hounded them in the past year. Some gun owners fired
their guns into the air to welcome the new year.

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