One person was killed and 272 were injured by firecrackers in Beijing since Jan 22, the eve of the Chinese New Year, municipal authorities said Tuesday.
A total of 272 fireworks injury cases and 192 fires caused by fireworks were reported in the first half of the first Chinese lunar month (Jan 22 to Feb 6), which is a drop of 45.7 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively, from last year, said the Beijing Fireworks Administration Office.
Beijing lifted its fireworks ban in 2005, allowing people to burn fireworks and firecrackers from 7 am to 11 pm every day throughout the first half of the first lunar month.
Starting on Tuesday, there is a three-day fireworks-for-goodies event in Beijing to encourage citizens to turn in unused fireworks. Unsold fireworks will also be recycled, said the office.
