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By Ashraf Abdul Wahab.
Tripoli, 13 January 2014:
During Mawlid, it is not just city streets that fill with noise and smoke; accident . . .[restrict]and emergency departments also fill up, mostly with burnt and maimed youngsters, who have ignored the dangers of handling fireworks.
Figures were still being compiled late last night it appeared that in Tripoli, at least 35 youths, the oldest 15, had sustained serious injuries. They included a nine year-old boy who had lost an eye. There were at least 100 other less serious injuries, mostly burns, some reportedly caused by fireworks thrown at people as they walked or rode motorbikes through the city.
The devastating power of the Chinese-made firecrackers and rockets, which are understood to have been selling in huge quantities, particularly off Omar Muktar Street in Rashid Street and the Old City, has harmed more than people.
It is understood that at least six cars were burnt out by firecrackers, while fires were started in a number of buildings, including one apartment block in Shara Ennasr and another on the Airport Road.
A bakery was reportedly burnt down in Salaheddin. Social media were full of individual stories of “attacks” with fire crackers or the launching of rockets almost horizontally.
The noisy celebrations of the Prophet’s Birthday will reach their peak this evening.
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