MPD logs 38 injuries amid Traslacion 2024

Thirty-eight injuries have been recorded so far as Black Nazarene devotees continue to swarm amid the procession of the centuries-old black image of Jesus Christ, the Manila Police District (MPD) said Tuesday.

MPD station 3 commander Police Colonel Leandro Gutierrez said the injuries were logged among the 600,000 devotees who joined this year’s Traslacion, which started in Quirino Grandstand early Tuesday morning, and will end in the Quiapo Church.

“Meron tayong recorded na 38 na injuries. Most of them ‘yung nahilo, nasugatan nang bahagya, at saka inatake ng hika,” Gutierrez said in a Balitanghali interview.

(We have recorded 38 injuries so far. Most of them got dizzy, while others got slightly injured, and had an asthma attack.)

The Department of Health (DOH) said it is coordinating with the responsible unit in the field regarding the injuries and will provide updates once available.

The DOH, which is currently on “code white alert,” has deployed health emergency response teams stationed at the Quirino Grandstand; Roxas Blvd. cor Ayala (National Museum & Fine Arts); Ayla Blvd. cor Taft (PNU); Ayala Blvd. cor San Marcelino; San Sebastian Church with Reachout; Villarica, Quezon Blvd; Quinta Market; and Paterno, Quezon Blvd.

Gutierrez thus advised faithfuls who do not feel well not to join the Traslacion physically anymore.

“Paalala namin, ‘yung mga pupunta dito sa Quiapo Church at ‘yung mga sasama sa prusisyon, kung meron kayong masamang nararamdaman sa inyong mga katawan, sa bahay na lang po kayo mag-stay at mag-monitor na lang sa mga TV,” he said.

(Reminder to those who will go to Quiapo Church and those who will join the procession, if you are not feeling well, just stay at home and monitor the event on TV.)

According to Quiapo Church, the procession officially started and left Quirino Grandstand in Manila at 4:45 a.m.

Around 2 million people are expected to join the procession.

Gutierrez said the pacing of this year’s procession was quite faster as compared to the previous years. He attributed this to the new "andas" or the carriage bearing the image of the Nazareno.

“Kung tuloy tuloy ang takbo andas at ganyan ang galaw niya, baka hapon pa lang, baka hindi na abutin ng gabi, makarating na dito (Quiapo Church)… Mabilis ang takbo ng andas ngayon,” he added.

(If the andas continues at this pace, it may arrive in the Quiapo Church in the afternoon. It has a faster pacing now.)—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News