Nazareno 2024: PH Red Cross says 27 people sent to hospital

A Nazareno or Black Nazarene image is carried by a devotee in this photo taken during a Mass at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, on January 9, 2023. INQUIRER/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Updated on January 9, 2023 at 3:26 p.m.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) reported that 27 people, including one who suffered from head trauma and a pregnant woman who complained of abdominal pain, were sent to the hospital amid activities for the Black Nazarene in Manila on Tuesday.

The PRC said the eight other individuals who were sent to the hospital for appropriate treatments had minor health issues such as fever, cough, dizziness, body weakness, minor wounds, and ankle sprain, chest pain, hyperventilation, elevated blood pressure, and infected wound.

The 27 people were among the 600  individuals that the PRC has assisted so far, based on its 2 p.m. advisory.

First aid responders and government security personnel have been on stand-by around Quiapo Church in recent days and were deployed to various points along the route of the procession or traslacion of the image of the Black Nazarene on Tuesday as millions of devotees are expected to join the religious event.

The traslacion, which begins from the Quirino Grandstand and ends at Quiapo Church, resumed for this year’s Black Nazarene celebration after years of being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its report, the Quiapo Church Command Post said that 1,340,000 converged at the Quirino Grandstand as of 5 a.m. on Tuesday.

The Black Nazarene figure was displayed at the Quirino Grandstand for the “Pahalik,” where believers were allowed to touch and kiss the image.

READ: Some Nazarene devotees figure in minor medical cases at Quirino Grandstand

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula Jr. subsequently presided over a “Misa Mayor,” and the traslacion began.

The “andas” or carriage of the Black Nazarene left the Quirino Grandstand at 4:45 a.m. for a journey back to Quiapo Church.