By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
More than 18 million people took part in various events to celebrate the New Year across the nation, according to police estimates. But the celebrations did not go without accidents. Fireworks injured six citizens at the countdown ceremony Tuesday. Among them, two suffered eye injuries and were sent to hospitals.
Chongno, downtown Seoul was crowded with people for the Bosingak Bell Tolling at the strike of midnight.
Last year, the ceremony saw more than 20 injured in firecracker related incidents, resulting in some 6,000 policemen and firemen being stationed to control the use of private fireworks and prevent such accidents this year.
However, safety guards were unable to control huge crowds. Some shot off fire squibs they prepared for the midnight celebration and others shot firecrackers which they aimed at other’s faces.
``The road is barely passable due to the crowds. It is impossible to curb these people in this situation,’’ said a policeman.
The event also saw pickpockets among the crowd. The police yesterday arrested two pickpockets. They were attempting to steal a total of 660,000 won from a woman and a Japanese tourist.
A person was reported as having fainted on the way to the bell-tolling event. Emergency rescuers said a flood of people might have caused him to suffer breathing problems. He recovered later.
Apart from those incidents, a ferry of Miraejet, which runs between Hukuoka, Japan and Busan, Korea, ran out of fuel on the sea amid bad weather on the eve of the first day and had to be towed. Nearly 200 were aboard and no one was hurt, according to the Korea Coast Guard. The ship will arrive early in the morning today at the port of Busan.