Tehran: At least six people were killed and 331 injured in accidents during the Chaharshanbe Suri fire festival celebrated before the Navroz festival in Iran. Iranian news agency Tasnim gave this information on Wednesday, quoting emergency service officials.
The annual festival begins on the Tuesday before Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, which will be celebrated on Saturday this year. The ritual dates to at least 1700 B.C. and is linked to Zoroastrianism, which was the predominant religion of the nation before Islam.
Traditionally, people light bonfires, set off fireworks and send wish lanterns floating into the night sky as part of festivities. Many use powerful, substandard firecrackers.
More than 200 of the nearly 1,900 injured were hospitalised, according to the reports. Several ambulances and rescue cars were damaged Tuesday night and police arrested dozens for disregarding law and order, they said.
Almost half of the injured were under age 16 and the rest under 33, according to the reports.
Last year, the death toll from festival activities was four. Many people stayed at home because of the pandemic, which has hit Iran worse than any other country in the Middle East. Some 1.76 million cases have been confirmed, including more than 61,000 deaths, to date.
