The Ministry of Culture at last minute canceled the National Carnival Parade that would have taken place on Sunday, 17 March 2024 on the Malecon in the capital city. The parade would have been the traditional grand finale of the carnival season in the Dominican Republic. The annual event brings together the best of carnival parades in February and March for a final cultural display of color and movement before thousands of people on the capital city’s sea-bordering Malecon.
Yet, after four children died of the burns received when unauthorized fireworks went off before the Salcedo parade on Sunday, 10 March 2024, the Ministry called off the event in solidarity with the people of Salcedo.
Among those who died is a son of Elvis Miguel Santos de Jesús, the member of the Los Toros carnival group, who is said to be the man who imprudently set off the firework that led to the burning of the highly flammable costumes of those nearby that were waiting to participate in the parade.
18 persons suffered serious burns, including the man’s grandson, who died of his burns. Santos de Jesús suffered a pre-infarction after receiving the news of the death of his grandson, 13-year old Ángel Miguel Santos Ovalles on Thursday, 14 March.
A Salcedo court had ordered the house arrest of Elvis Miguel Santos de Jesús. Diario Libre reports that investigators are delving into the operation that irregularly sold the fireworks to be used in the Salcedo carnival. In the Dominican Republic by law only authorized companies can manipulate and detonate fireworks.
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Diario Libre
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El Dia
Noticias SIN
18 March 2024