145 devotees hurt in Nazarene procession

MANILA, Philippines - At least 145 devotees were reported hurt in the Black Nazarene procession in Manila on Good Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council  (NDRRMC) reported yesterday.

Through the Office of Civil Defense-National Capital Region (OCD-NCR), the NDRRMC said that out of the estimated 15,000 devotees who joined the Black Nazarene procession, 145 of them sustained various but minor injuries at the height of the yearly Holy Week event.

A devotee was treated for an unspecified serious injury while two others had to be rushed to the hospital at the height of the procession, the OCD-NCR reported.

The Black Nazarene procession started at around 3 p.m., right after the “Seven Last Words” rite held at Quiapo Church. 

Four children who got lost in the crowd during the procession were later reunited with their parents with the help of city authorities, the OCD-NCR said.

However, the Manila Police District said it does not have records of the injuries reported by the OCD-NCR. The MPD Station 3’s desk officer said the Plaza Miranda police community precinct has jurisdiction over the area.

The precinct’s officer of the day told The STAR that they had no “such blotter (records of) the incident.” He said the precinct usually has reports of street crimes and injuries sustained by participants of big events in Quiapo.  – With Rey Galupo