Despite bans and safety concerns, New Year’s Eve fireworks incidents result in fatalities and injuries across Germany and Austria.

New Year’s Eve celebrations in Germany and Austria were marred by tragic incidents involving fireworks, leading to the deaths of two individuals and injuries to several others. A 37-year-old man in Hennef, Germany, near Bonn, died from an exploding firework, and another 39-year-old man was severely injured. In Austria, a 23-year-old man lost his life and three others were injured in a separate fireworks-related accident southwest of Vienna.

Despite Germany’s ban on the sale of fireworks for personal use due to the coronavirus pandemic, many residents resorted to purchasing illegal fireworks or creating their own, resulting in a surge of mishaps. Other injuries were reported in the German cities of Leipzig and Hamburg, highlighting the ongoing risks of unregulated fireworks use during celebrations.