About 100 hurt in Manila's New Year

Thu, 02 Jan 1997 | 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.

View JSON | Print