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January 3, 2013

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Filipino girl killed in New Year revelry

A 7-YEAR-OLD girl died yesterday after being hit in the head by a stray bullet during New Year's Eve revelry in the Philippines, heightening calls to halt one of Asia's most violent celebrations of the New Year.

Stephanie Nicole Ella was watching fireworks with her family in their working-class neighborhood in Manila's suburban Caloocan city when she suddenly collapsed, blood spurting from her head. As she fought for her life in a government hospital, watched by her stunned parents, extensive media coverage of her ordeal turned her into a symbol of widespread concern over the violent celebrations.

Nearly 700 people were injured by firecrackers, including many illegally large types, and by celebratory gunfire on the days leading to the New Year despite government warnings and a crackdown on prohibited firecrackers and gun firing. A boy also died when he was accidentally shot in the back with a homemade shotgun by an intoxicated man in Mandaluyong city in the capital at the height of New Year's revelry, police said, adding a suspect has been arrested.

At least 40 people were injured by stray bullets during the New Year revelries. Stephanie, an award-winning student, "dreamed at a young age to become rich to help us," her distraught father Jay Ella said.




 

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