Iranians maimed, killed as Newroz festivities get out of hand
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Despite the economic hardships of life under international sanctions, Iranians are embracing the festive period of Newroz. Festivities often get out of hand, however, resulting in death and serious injury.
Overnight, millions celebrated Chaharshanbeh Suri, the last Wednesday of the Iranian calendar, with bonfires and fireworks. Paramedics have been working overtime in the run up to March 21 caring for adults and children maimed and burned by explosives.
Health officials say three people have died and almost 2,000 have been injured over the past four weeks.
“Out of this number, 385 suffered first, second, and third degree burns, 107 people suffered limb amputations, and 453 people suffered injuries to their eyes,” Dr Payman Saberian, head of a crisis room set up specifically to deal with the Chaharshanbeh Suri celebration, told Tasnim news agency.
At sunset on Tuesday night, party goers start jumping over bonfires, which is seen as a purifying act according to ancient tradition. Despite warnings from the authorities, many also set of fireworks in residential areas.
Hossein Kolivand, head of Iran Emergency Service, said although the number of injuries seems high, there has actually been a 60 percent drop on last year’s figures.
In one specific incident, a 29-year-old man from Hamadan died after a hand grenade in his pocket accidentally detonated. A 16-year-old boy from Zanjan was also killed in a firework accident.
In the Kurdish province of western Iran, roughly 200 people were injured in similar incidents.
Newroz, which means “New Day” in Persian, is celebrated by several ethno-linguistic groups, including Afghans, Kurds, and Iranians.
Hundreds of people are also killed in road accidents during Newroz. In just the last three days, 76 people have died on Iran’s roads, traffic police chief Mohammad Hussein Hamidi told state broadcaster IRIB.