PNRC reports 76 casualties in ‘Nazarene’ procession

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Red Cross reported 76 casualties in the ongoing procession of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila Monday.

In a phone interview, Gwendolyn Pang, PNRC secretary general, said of that of the 76, 33 were injured, 40 became ill due to high blood pressure, and 3 were transported to nearby hospitals.

Radio reports said a stampede occurred when a steel railing gave way, leaving a number of devotees injured. Pang, however, noted that the PNRC refused to call the incident a stampede since the injuries some devotees sustained were merely because of the collapsed railing.