Fireworks accidents in Italy leave one dead, hundreds injured on New Year’s Eve

One person was killed and 283 others were injured in Italy by fireworks explosions during New Year’s Eve celebrations, according to the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. 

Authorities noted that 54 people required hospitalisation for serious injuries. The lone fatality was a 63-year-old man in Rome, who died after being struck by fireworks believed to be of poor quality, Caliber.Az reports via Italian media. 

Among the injured were 68 minors. In the city of Caserta near Naples, a 9-year-old child was hospitalised after sustaining a gunshot wound to the arm, a result of the region’s longstanding tradition of indiscriminate shooting during New Year’s festivities.

Overall, the number of victims this year represents a slight decrease compared to last year, when 309 people were injured in similar incidents.

Italian authorities have urged the public to exercise caution when handling fireworks and to follow safety regulations to prevent further injuries.

By Sabina Mammadli