New Year’s Eve: 132 people wounded by fireworks in Iraq

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi health authorities have recorded at least 132 injuries caused by fireworks in Iraqi provinces, including one death, during the New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The fireworks were heavily used during the celebrations on the occasion of New Year on Sunday evening across Iraqi provinces, including Baghdad.

The Ministry of Health announced that 132 injuries due to the fireworks is a “much lower” figure compared to the causalities tally of last year.

A citizen was killed as a result of celebratory gunshots, which similarly wounded 17 other people, according to the statement.

According to several footage widely shared on social media, celebrators are seen firing the fireworks directly at each other.

Numerous celebrations were organized across Iraq’s Kurdistan Region as well.

The General Directorate of Health in Erbil province announced on Monday that it had treated 54 wounded people. It did not elaborate further on the cause of injuries.