New Year fireworks in China leave 2 dead, over 200 hurt

Feb 04, 2011 |

Beijing

Tags:

fireworks

Two people were killed and over 200 injured in Beijing by traditional fireworks set off to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The two were killed in an explosion while setting off shoddy fireworks in the early hours of Thursday, the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the official media reported quoting a statement from the Beijing Municipal Office. While 223 suffered injuries ranging from burns to their eyes and other parts of the body, it said.

China formally bids goodbye to the year of "Tiger" on February 2 and celebrated on Thursday as the beginning of the year of "Rabbit" as per the Zodiac calendar.

In many ways Chinese celebrate their new year much like Diwali in India lighting variety of firecrackers to drive away the evil spirits.

As per the rules, Chinese were permitted to light the fireworks only during the new year week after which it becomes an offence to light the crackers without official permission.

"In Beijing Tongren Hospital, 78 of the 85 patients injured by fireworks received treatment for eye injuries, and children accounted for one-quarter of the injured," said Lu Hai, a doctor with the hospital. "Some injured citizens are unlucky passers by or bystanders."

Out of concerns over environmental pollution and possible damages caused by fireworks, Beijing had banned fireworks in urban districts since 1993, a policy that has been followed by many Chinese cities, the official Xinhua news agency reported. The ban was revoked in 2006, after the public complained about the loss of festive atmasphere.

A new set of rules were enacted to restrict the time and places for fireworks and firecrackers.

In 2009, an illegal fireworks display kindled a blaze that consumed a building of the newly-built headquarters of China Central Television (CCTV), killing one fireman and injuring another eight.

In the wee hours yesterday, fire gutted a five-star hotel in Northeast Shenyang city. Police said the fire was triggered by fireworks.

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