ROME, Jan 1 Fireworks in Italy on New Year's Eve 180 people were injured, of which 48 were hospitalized, according to statistics from the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Last year the number of wounded was lower — 124 people. The proportion of injured minors has also seriously increased — from 20 to 50.
A number of serious incidents have been registered in the southern regions of the country, where celebrations traditionally have a wider scope. In Taranto, a 10-year-old boy lost his brush due to a firecracker explosion. An 80-year-old man is hospitalized in serious condition in Lecce after a firecracker exploded too close to his head, causing a hemorrhage. In and around Naples, where fireworks have a cult status, 16 people were injured, including two children with eye injuries.
On New Year's Eve, Italian firefighters had to make 646 trips to the scene due to fires that arose as a result of stormy celebrations. At the meeting in 2022, there were only 558 such trips. In addition, law enforcement officers arrested 35 people for various violations.