Firecrackers left two people dead, a child injured and five people
requiring amputations during New Year celebrations in Germany, police
and emergency services said on Monday.
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.