Argentina Christmas fireworks kill one, injure 100

At least one person died and more than 100 were hospitalized in Argentina, some with serious burns and eye injuries, after they were hurt by Christmas fireworks, officials said Sunday.

Police said a 27-year-old in the central Santa Fe province died after a large firecracker exploded in his mouth, in circumstances that were still under investigation.

In the capital Buenos Aires, medics worked over the holiday to treat scores of patients, including many children.

"We had a 20 percent increase over last year, with 57 patients admitted with severe eye injuries," said Fernando Pellegrino, head of emergencies at the Santa Lucia Eye Hospital in the capital Buenos Aires.

The Buenos Aires Burn Hospital treated 27 patients with burns from fireworks and firecrackers used by residents to mark holiday celebrations in Argentina's largest city, according to hospital official Miriam Minho.

"This year I have seen more severe injuries. In the past it was abrasions and superficial burns, but now 90 percent have exposed bones and muscle loss, and we had to amputate a finger," she said.

She added that most of the burn victims were less than 14 years old, and that in the most serious case, an eight-year-old boy was on life support in the intensive care unit with burns on 38 percent of his body.

The injured also included an eight-month-old baby struck by a firecracker.

Scores of injuries were reported from other provinces as well.

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