Firecrackers kill in east Germany
BERLIN: Firecrackers left two people dead, a child injured and five people requiring amputations during New Year celebrations in Germany, police and emergency services said yesterday. A 35-year-old man and a 19-year-old died when fireworks went off in their faces in the eastern state of Brandenburg, regional police said on Twitter. A firework thrown by a group of youths left an 11-year-old boy with severe facial injuries in the same region, regional daily Markische Allgemeine reported. The paper described the firework as a “Polish rocket” sold on the Polish border and which typically contains more explosive than those which retail in Germany. In Berlin, five people had hands or fingers amputated after suffering severe injuries with fireworks leaving 21 people hurt overall in the capital, according to hospital officials. Firework-related accidents, fires and assorted injuries are a regular feature of New Year celebrations in Germany.
Nearly 200 hurt
In another development, nearly 200 people were injured during traditionally raucous New Year celebrations in the Philippines despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s order limiting the use of firecrackers, the health minister said yesterday. The order signed in June restricted the noisy explosives to community fireworks displays in an attempt to curb the bloody merrymaking that leaves scores of Filipinos dead or injured each year.
The Philippines is mainly Catholic but the violent New Year festivities draw on ancient superstitions and Chinese traditions, with people firing guns and setting off powerful fireworks in the belief the bangs will drive away bad spirits. Health Secretary Francisco Duque said 191 people were hurt during the 2018 revelrydown 77 percent compared to the average over the past five years-but added his department might recommend a total firecracker ban to ensure zero casualties.
“We are relatively pleased-relative because there are still injuries but pleased because of the substantial reduction in fireworks-related injuries,” Duque told reporters as he thanked Duterte for issuing the order. Asked how to further minimize injuries, Duque said: “I think the end goal really is to ban fireworks completely.” Duterte, 72, won elections in mid-2016 vowing to strictly enforce law and order measures. He has also waged an unprecedented drug war which has claimed thousands of lives and led rights groups to warn he may be orchestrating crimes against humanity.