11 killed, 486 injured during Fire Festival celebrations in Iran - China.org.cn

At least 11 people have been killed and 486 others injured in Iran during the celebrations of Chaharshanbe Suri, or Fire Festival, the Iranian state TV reported on Tuesday.

Among the wounded, 49 people were amputated for severe injuries, Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesman of Iran's Emergency Organization, was quoted as saying.

Most of the casualties, up by 47 percent from last year, occurred in the past four or five days, Khaledi said.

Fire Festival is celebrated by Iranians on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz, the Iranian new year, which begins on March 21 this year. The celebrations this year started days ago and reached their climax on Tuesday evening.

Iranians celebrate the Fire Festival by jumping over bonfires and using firecrackers in public places, which are the rites performed to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year.

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