Medical authorities report that the death toll of the mishandled fireworks during the 10 March 2024 Salcedo carnival is now at five children.
The most recent to die was 11-year old Aquiel Diloné interned at the Arturo Grullón Regional Children’s Hospital. Previously, the Santiago hospital had reported the death of six-year old Yoel Alexander Garcia, 13-year old Angel Santos and 5-year old Andriel Leonardo Abreu.
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Others who have died in the tragedy are 53-year old Henry Rosario Ortega and six-year old Yoel Alexander Garcia at the burn unit of the Ney Arias Lora Hospital in Santo Domingo.
The deaths occurred after carnival participant Elvis Santos mishandled fireworks and a spark spread to the highly-flammable costumes.
As reported, 15-year old Cesar Junior Polanco, 16-year old Edwin Arias, and 11-year old Carlos Blanco are hospitalized in serious conditions. Family and friends of Salcedo have called for the population to continue praying for their recovery.
Elvis Santos was ordered to remain under house arrest after he was charged with detonating the firework that caused the tragedy. Elvis Santos is the grandfather of the deceased Angel Santos. The affected families have not pressed charges against Santos.
Mexico has contributed skin grafts for the recovery of the patients.
Fireworks handling is restricted to authorized operators in the Dominican Republic. Santos was not authorized to handle the fireworks.
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19 March 2024