Almost 300 devotees sustain injury during Traslacion 2019

INQUIRER.net photo / Daphne Galvez

Nearly 300 devotees were injured during this year’s Traslacion as the Black Nazarene procession inches its way closer to Quiapo Church, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said Wednesday afternoon.

As of 3 p.m., the PRC said there were 287 devotees who suffered minor injuries including fainting, laceration, nosebleed, bruises, and punctures.

Meanwhile, 20 devotees suffered injuries such as difficulty in breathing, blunt force trauma, bone fractures, and burns.

Seven devotees were transported to nearby hospitals. Of which, two patients complained of chest pain with difficulty in breathing, two suffered from hypertension, one had a dislocated shoulder, one endured a hip fracture, and one suffered from right lumbar pain.

The PRC assisted 565 devotees who sought assistance to monitor their blood pressure.

PRC Safety Services Manager Von Ryan Ong said the Traslacion is a clear testament as to how religious Filipinos are as they are willing to risk their safety, health and even life to show their devotion.

“Super sacrifice talaga yung ginagawa nila dahil they’re putting their health, their life, at stake talaga para lang magawa yung devotion nila,” Ong said in an interview.

He noted how dangerous it is to participate in the Traslacion as devotees who are barefoot could step onto unknown sharp objects, coupled with the heat and the volume of people who join the procession.

“Yung ginagawa nila talaga is napapakita kung gaano ka-religious yung mga Pilipino na kahit na may ganong threat or panganib, okay lang sa kanila basta magawa nila ito yearly,” he said. /jpv

Photo from Philippine Red Cross

Photo from Philippine Red Cross

Photo from Philippine Red Cross

Photo from Philippine Red Cross

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