Over 50 hurt during Black Nazarene procession

MANILA, Philippines - More than 50 people were reported injured during the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene or traslacion Thursday morning.

Reports said that most of the devotees who sustained minor injuries on the head and feet were treated at the first aid stations set up by the Philippine Red Cross and other volunteer organizations.

Other devotees at the Quiapo church area who felt dizzy or fainted while waiting for the procession were also  rushed to first aid stations in the area, reports added.

The PRC has set up 15 medical stations along the routes of the procession to attend to the devotees who are hurt or who need medical assistance.

Earlier, a devotee was rushed to a hospital after one of his toes was crushed by the wheels of a carriages with replicas of the miraculous image of the Black Nazarene.

As of this posting, the procession is slowly moving around selected routes in the city of Manila.

Police estimated about 16,000 people flocked to the Quirino Grandstand in Manila during the Holy Mass celebrated by Manila Archbishop Antonio Cardinal Tagle before the traditional procession.