Society
Spring Festival "safer" with fewer fireworks accidents
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-22 20:30
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BEIJING - Chinese people spent a "safer" spring festival holiday this year, with the number of accidents and casualties caused by fireworks down, the Ministry of Public Security said Monday.
During the seven-day holiday from February 13 to 19, fireworks caused 1,626 accidents nationwide, down 3.3 percent year on year.
Including 11 deaths, nationwide casualties reached 1,819, down 2.3 percent compared with past year, the ministry said on its website.
In the nation's capital, Beijing, accidents totalled 380, while 380 people were injured, both down 5.9 percent compared with the previous year. There were no deaths in Beijing.
Most accidents were caused by the mishandling of firecrackers, the statement said.
Police offices at all levels across the country had taken preventive measures, including security checks and road patrols during the festival, to prevent accidents from happening. Police had also enhanced monitoring of firecrackers' production, transportation, storage and sales, the ministry said.
From ancient times, Chinese people have had the tradition of setting off firecrackers on the Lunar New Year, to dispel monsters.
Nowadays, people set off fireworks to celebrate one year's end and another's beginning.
