400 hurt as Asian nation celebrates with gunfire

More than 400 people were injured by powerful firecrackers and gunfire at New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Philippines — down 17% on a year earlier but still high enough to make it one of Asia’s most violent parties to welcome 2013.

Health secretary Enrique Ona said yesterday the 413 casualties included a child, who was hit in the head by a stray bullet fired by an unidentified person at the height of new-year revelry in suburban Caloocan city in metropolitan Manila.

The 7-year-old girl is fighting for her life and Mr Ona said she may not survive.