People celebrate New Year’s Eve in Baghdad using fireworks
Nearly 500 injured nationwide in New Year’s Eve incidents, Iraq health ministry says
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Health recorded nearly 500 injuries across the country during New Year’s Eve celebrations, most linked to fireworks, celebratory gunfire and traffic accidents, with officials saying the majority of cases were minor to moderate.
Health Ministry spokesperson Saif al-Badr said preliminary data showed about 300 injuries caused by fireworks alone. “The Ministry of Health recorded a non-final statistic of injuries on New Year’s night caused by fireworks, indicating around 300 injuries,” he said.
Baghdad accounted for the largest share of fireworks-related cases, al-Badr said. “The majority were on the Rusafa side, including 200 injuries in Rusafa and approximately 67 injuries in Karkh, while the remaining cases were distributed across all Iraqi governorates,” he said.
He stressed that the figures are not final. “This statistic is not final, because some injured people did not visit health institutions,” al-Badr said, adding that additional cases are expected to be registered.
According to the ministry, 43 injuries were caused by celebratory gunfire and 140 resulted from traffic accidents, in addition to 86 other injuries from various causes.
“All of these cases received the necessary treatment and first aid and were transferred to health institutions and emergency wards in Baghdad and the governorates, where they received the required medical care,” al-Badr said. He added that most injuries were minor to moderate, though some cases required hospital admission and continued treatment.
Health facilities remained fully operational throughout the holiday, he said. “No shortages of medicines or medical supplies were recorded, with medical staff available around the clock, not only for emergency cases but also for routine services such as childbirth, patient visits and traffic accidents,” al-Badr said.
The spokesperson noted that the ministry had issued warnings ahead of New Year’s Eve but said compliance fell short. He called for stricter adherence in future celebrations, urging families to better supervise children and authorities to tighten controls on gunfire and fireworks.
He emphasized the need to regulate fireworks by age group, saying that most injuries, particularly among children, were caused by fireworks and dangerous toys such as pellet guns.