Cyprus Times

Tragedy in Germany: Two 18-Year-Olds Killed in New Year's Eve Fireworks Incidents

Published January 1, 2026, 06:01
Tragedy in Germany: Two 18-Year-Olds Killed in New Year's Eve Fireworks Incidents

Two 18-year-olds lost their lives in Germany on New Year's Eve while setting off fireworks. The two incidents occurred in different areas of Bielefeld, in North Rhine-Westphalia. Another teenager, 14 years old, suffered a hand amputation from a firework explosion in Rentedich, while in Berlin, five people required hospital treatment, two of whom were in serious condition. Additionally, a 16-year-old in Leipzig lost part of her fingers from an improvised firework. The use of fireworks in Germany is only permitted on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. However, accidents are frequent, especially due to the use of illegal and improvised fireworks that contain powerful explosives. Police report that no other individuals were responsible for the two fatal incidents. According to statistics from the AOK insurance company, an average of 530 firework-related injuries are recorded during the New Year period over the past ten years, a number 2.6 times higher than on working days and 4.4 times higher than on regular weekends. Experts from various fields (medical, police, environmental, animal welfare) repeatedly call for a ban on the sale of fireworks due to the risks they pose.