Man dies after 'drunkenly hugging firecracker' at New Year celebrations in the Philippines
Aman has died after he lit a firecracker and hugged it while drunk at New Year celebrations in the Philippines.The country’s Health Secretary Janet Garin confirmed the man embraced the dynamite-like firework, called “Goodbye Philippines”, in Manila when it exploded and killed him.The victim was identified in reports as Ronald Vericio, 45, a pedicab driver from Santa Mesa, Manila.Elsewhere in the capital, officials said thousands of families were left homeless when an abandoned hut was set on fire, causing 1,000 shacks to be destroyed.Fire officials said a rocket lit by revellers set the hut ablaze before it then spread to other homes in the Tondo slum district.Ms Garin said the number of people injured was less than half of last year’s toll because of rain late on New Year’s Eve and a Government scare campaign which showed past victims with fingers ripped off by firecracker blasts.Powerful firecrackers are used by many superstitious Filipinos at New Year to drive away bad luck and evil.The Government has promoted firework displays sponsored by shopping centres, cities and TV networks to dissuade people from lighting their own firecrackers.
