The celebration of Purim festivities in Tel Aviv last night was marred by two incidents which caused burns and other injuries to hundreds of celebrants including many children.
In the first accident, someone released a huge flare bomb which caused burns to many and injuries to others as the crowd panicked. Scores of persons, standing near the scene of the flare bomb release, suddenly realized that their clothes were afire. Chaos followed before police moved in with vans and ambulances to take the burned and injured victims to hospitals.
The second accident was precipitated by an invitation to the public to enter a contest to catch a floating balloon. Under the pressure of many youngsters swarming toward a tower, the structure collapsed, hurtling many of the children to the ground in a mass of wreckage. Sixteen were hospitalized with injuries, and scores were treated on the scene, then sent home.
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