5 dead, 91 injured in fireworks blasts in Iran

Incidents caused by the explosion of fireworks during February 20-March 1 in Iran ahead of the upcoming Fire Festival in the country left five people dead and 91 others injured, the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reported on Saturday (March 2).

The number of deaths has doubled compared to last year, while injuries have increased by 57 percent, the ISNA quoted Jafar Miadfar, head of Iran’s Medical Emergency Organization, as saying.

He specified that one of the deaths had occurred in the Iranian capital, Tehran, while the other four were in the northwestern province of West Azarbaijan.

Among the injured, 15 people underwent amputations, 31 suffered eye injuries, and 41 sustained burns, Miadfar said.

Accidents caused by fireworks are more frequent in Iran in the days leading up to the traditional Fire Festival, celebrated by Iranians on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, which falls on March 20 this year. 

The Fire Festival is scheduled to be celebrated on March 12 this year.