Tragedy struck during New Year's Eve celebrations in Germany as five people lost their lives and numerous emergency workers sustained injuries in incidents involving fireworks. Despite growing calls for a nationwide ban on private fireworks usage, the tradition remains deeply ingrained in the country's New Year festivities, with thousands of pyrotechnics lighting up city streets annually.
Among the casualties were two individuals in Saxony, including a 45-year-old man who tragically died while handling a 'firework bomb.' Emergency responders faced perilous situations as they were targeted by fireworks throughout the night, with Berlin's fire department alone responding to 1,892 incidents - a significant increase from the previous year.
Reports indicated that over 1,500 emergency personnel were on duty, with at least 13 attacks on these workers reported. In Berlin, 330 individuals were detained, and a police officer sustained severe injuries after being struck by an illegal firework, necessitating surgery.
Further chaos ensued in Munich, where a stray firework sparked a massive balcony fire in an apartment building, resulting in serious injuries to three children aged two, eleven, and fourteen. The injuries ranged from burns to severe hand damage, highlighting the dangers posed by mishandled pyrotechnics.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser commended the emergency services for their efforts and emphasized the importance of a robust police presence to combat violence and disorder. The first responders' union condemned the attacks on emergency workers, stressing that such violence should never be tolerated.
Concerns were raised about the use of illegal and homemade fireworks, with a pyrotechnics association warning against the dangers posed by these unregulated explosives. Calls for a nationwide ban on private fireworks sales on New Year's Eve were renewed by environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe, citing the need to prevent further tragedies during what should be a time of celebration.
