ABS-CBN's News Report :
MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) - A stampede marred the procession of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Rizal Park Monday, leaving at least 80 devotees injured at the very start of the annual parade.
Initial reports said emergency volunteers treated 80 people after devotees pushed and shoved to get near the sculpture of the Black Nazarene as it was carried from the Quirino Grandstand to the "andas" or carriage.
News footage of the procession showed a steel railing being toppled right after the Mass celebrated by newly installed Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle. An elderly woman and a barefoot man were als oseen grimacing in pain before being carried off to get medical treatment.
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| Image Credit:http://www.cbc.ca |
ABS-CBN reporter Sol Aragones said hundreds of devotees surged forward "like a wave" to get near the relic right after the Mass. She said many devotees sustained leg and head injuries during the stampede.
Meanwhile, the procession was stalled after the rear tires of the carriage carrying the image of the Black Nazarene broke down. One of the ropes connected to the carriage also broke, causing a delay in the procession in the area of Roxas Boulevard and Padre Burgos Street near Manila Hotel.
Some 6 million to 8 million devotees from across the country are expected to join the traditional grand annual procession of the Black Nazarene, highlighting the 405th celebration of the feast of the traslacion, which commemorates the transfer of the sacred image from the Recollect Church in Intramuros, Manila to the Quiapo Church in 1787.
The procession from Rizal Park to Quiapo Church is expected to last from 10 to 12 hours.
President Aquino earlier warned that terrorists could carry out an attack during the procession for the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila. With reports from radio DZMM
source: ABS-CBN News
