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Agence France-Presse

Stray bullets and exploding firecrackers have killed two and injured hundreds in the Philippines, authorities said Friday, amid the country’s traditional riotous New Year celebrations.
A drunk man died after he embraced a giant firecracker, called “Goodbye Philippines”, as it was about to explode, health secretary Janet Garin said.
“His jaw was shattered. He was so intoxicated he hugged the Goodbye Philippines,” Garin said, adding the man was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Eighty per cent of the country’s 100 million people are Catholic but Filipino superstition dictates making ear-shattering noises during New Year’s Eve to ward off bad luck.

Revellers set off firecrackers and shoot guns into the air to celebrate the December festive season.
The health department listed 380 injuries due to fireworks and four others due to stray bullets.
In many hospitals across the country, firecracker victims rushed into emergency rooms grimacing in pain as they held their bloodied limbs.
An eight-year-old boy in the northern farming province of Nueva Vizcaya had three of his fingers amputated after a firecracker exploded in his hands, Garin said. At least nine children had their fingers amputated due to firecracker injuries, she said.

In a Manila shantytown, a lit firecracker started a slum inferno, which quickly spread, fire bureau spokesman Renato Marcial said.
The blaze destroyed a cramped maze of wood and cardboard huts in the early hours of Friday, leaving 3,000 people homeless, city disaster officer Johnny Yu said.
Panicked and weeping residents fled their burning homes carrying clothes and furniture while men, many of whom were drunk from a night of merrymaking, desperately tried to put out the fire with buckets of water.
A 65-year-old woman died from a heart attack as she watched her house burn, Yu said.

Many Filipino civilians keep licensed guns in their homes to protect themselves in a high-crime society and most firecrackers are legal and easily available.
The 384 injuries recorded so far for 2015 are up from 354 in 2014.


Drunk man who died holding giant firecracker called ‘Goodbye Philippines’ among casualties in New Year mayhem 

A Filipino boy cries at a hospital after being treated for injury in a firecracker explosion while celebrating the New Year in Manila, Philippines Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. Despite the total ban of some firecrackers, many Filipinos welcome the New Year with fireworks allegedly to bring them good luck and to drive away evil spirits. (AP Photo/Linus Escandor II)

A reveler grimaces while being treated at a hospital after being injured in a firecracker explosion while celebrating the New Year in Manila, Philippines Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. Despite the total ban of some firecrackers, many Filipinos welcome the New Year with fireworks allegedly to bring them good luck and to drive away evil spirits. (AP Photo/Linus Escandor II)

A man throws a bucket of water to help firemen battle a fire that occurred as Filipinos welcome the New Year at a poor Manila district of Tondo Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 in the Philippines. The cause of the fire is still under investigation but a number of fires that occurred in the raucous New Year celebrations in the country are attributed to firecracker explosions. (AP Photo/Linus Escandor II)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - A reveler is treated at a hospital after being injured in a firecracker explosion while celebrating the New Year in Manila, Philippines Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. Despite the total ban of some firecrackers, many Filipinos welcome the New Year with fireworks allegedly to bring them good luck and to drive away evil spirits. (AP Photo/Linus Escandor II)

A Filipino boy cries at a hospital after being treated for a firecracker injury. Photo: AP

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