The traditional "festival of fire," which is observed nationwide on the last Wednesday of the Iranian calendar year concluding March 20, once again turned into a time of sadness and misery for many participants as several died, had organs removed, or suffered serious burns.
Around 4,300 people were hurt, mostly by homemade explosives, during the weeks-long Chaharshanbe Suri celebrations that came to an end on Wednesday, and at least 26 people lost their lives.
According to remarks made on Wednesday by Jafar Miadfar, the head of Iran's National Medical Emergency Agency, this year's festival-related fatalities and injuries have increased by 22%, totaling 26 fatalities and 4,368 injuries.
Tehran, the nation's capital, reportedly witnessed the greatest number of fatalities and injuries.
The 2,500-year-old annual celebration has its roots in Iran before the advent of Islam, when Zoroastrianism ruled as the predominant local religion.
The last Wednesday before Nevruz, the Iranian new year that starts on March 21, is known as Chahashanbe Suri, which translates as "Red Wednesday" or "Wednesday Celebration" in Persian.
Nonetheless, preparations for the celebration begin weeks in advance, including the creation of firecrackers and home-made explosives. On the festival night, revellers fill the streets with firecrackers, various explosives, and jumping and dancing around bonfires that have been lit in the streets and other public locations.
The historic celebration has recently "lost its sheen," he stated, due to tragic incidents that have caused thousands of lives and injuries.
Over 80% of the fatalities, according to Miadfar's additional information, happened on Tuesday night, with Tehran, Tabriz, Hamedan, Qazvin, and Kerman reporting the majority of cases.
Official statistics show that 79% of casualties were males, 21% were women, and 44% were young children, many of whom were hospitalised.
Of of the total injured, at least 229 individuals had limbs removed, 1,357 had eye injuries, and 867 had severe burns.
At least seven ambulances were also damaged on Tuesday night, including three in Tehran, three in Kerman, and one in Qom, despite the fact that medical workers had been put on high alert.
Other sources claim that an explosive-filled bag injured three siblings on Tuesday night in the central city of Qom, with one of them suffering 90% burns.
Police authorities said that this year, more hazardous devices were discovered and seized than in previous years, and that hundreds of people were interrogated in various locations.
On the night of the festival this year, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry issued a statement reporting the discovery of "sabotage networks and explosives," including hand grenades and home-made mortars.
At least eight people were detained on Tuesday night for making and using harmful devices during festivities, according to Tehran police chief Abbasali Mohammadian.