In Iran, 21 people have lost their lives and 6,419 have been injured in a fire festival incident.

 

At least 21 people were killed and 6,419 injured during Iran's traditional 'Chaharshanbe Suri' fire festival, authorities said on Wednesday.

The Turkish news agency Anadolu reported that the festival began after the holy Ramadan iftar in the capital Tehran on Wednesday. Participants lit fires and jumped over them and used fireworks, flashbangs and homemade explosives.

Although the Tehran Police Department warned that the use of explosives would be closely monitored through drone surveillance, such harmful materials have still caused several fatalities.

Iran's Emergency Medical Services Agency said on Thursday that 21 people have died and 6,419 have been injured across the country so far, 18 of whom are in critical condition. The highest number of injuries were recorded in Tehran, East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan provinces.

Earlier this morning, authorities reported 19 deaths and 5,568 injuries.

Iran follows the solar Hijri calendar, which is based on the movement of the sun. According to this calendar, Chaharshanbe Suri is celebrated on the Wednesday night before Nowruz (Persian New Year), a celebration that marks the arrival of spring.

The festival is popular among children and young people, but many people are killed every year due to fire jumping, fireworks and the use of homemade explosives as part of it.

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