The sale of the largest fireworks should be reviewed according to Herdís Storgaard, project manager in accident prevention of children. As reported earlier, a total of 13 accidents were reported on New Year’s Eve and January 6, the last day of Christmas, which is also celebrated with fireworks.

New Year's Eve fireworks in Reykjavík. Photo copyright Icelandic Photo Agency.

Among the victims was a man who obtained serious injuries to the face. The fireworks which caused the injuries contained around 2.5 kilograms of gunpowder. The largest cake fireworks weigh around 25 kilograms, shoot 200 fireworks projectiles and contain between 2.5 and 3 kilograms of gunpowder.

“I think we need to review this as the development has been that the fireworks are getting bigger and bigger and there is now an immense quantity of gunpowder in the cake fireworks,” Herdís told ruv.is.

The sale of such fireworks are banned in Denmark with the exception of to those in possession of 
a special license. In Sweden, it is heatedly debated whether to ban such fireworks after a child lost his foot in an accident.

According to managing director of ICE-SAR Gunnar Stefánsson, the cake fireworks which the organization sells in order to raise funds, fulfill the strictest safety requirements.

ZR