The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Friday noon, January 9, reported that the number of major injuries recorded during this year’s Traslacion has already exceeded comparable figures from last year, even before the procession reached its later stages.
PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwendolyn Pang said that as of before 12:00 p.m., responders had already handled 10 major cases, a sharper pace compared with last year’s total of just over 20 for the entire event.
The Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MCDRRMO), on the other hand, had already reported 17 major injuries as of 1:00 p.m.
To support an estimated crowd of millions, the PRC deployed 1,216 trained volunteers working on three 12-hour shifts, backed by 17 first aid stations, 19 ambulances along the procession route, and an Emergency Field Hospital equipped with 10 emergency beds and 50 ward beds.
Dr. Pang also confirmed that a photojournalist was found unresponsive during the festivities and was declared dead on arrival at a hospital, with initial information indicating a heart attack that may have been aggravated by exhaustion.
“Lagi namin pinagbibilin na kailangan siguraduhin natin na sa tamang kondisyon ang ating katawan bago tayo sumabak,” Dr. Pang said.
She urged devotees to prioritize safety, advising those who are sick, sleep-deprived, pregnant, elderly, or physically unfit to avoid joining the procession, and reminding participants to stay hydrated, wear proper clothing, and avoid risky behavior in extremely dense crowds.
The PRC also noted that the Traslacion has been moving more slowly this year, with the andas still along Palanca Street late in the morning, following a brief delay after the carriage hit a gutter earlier in the day.
