16 People Burned in Yunnan Torch Festival Accident, Some Rolling on the Ground

An accident occurred during the Torch Festival in Xuanwei City, Qujing, Yunnan, China, where many people were hit by tongues of fire, resulting in 16 people suffering burns.

At around 8:30 p.m. on the 6th, a Torch Festival celebration was held in Wusa Village, Jianwen Village, Lefeng Township, Xuanwei City. As participants lit their torches, a plastic barrel containing flammable liquid suddenly tipped over, and the liquid was instantly ignited by the flames. A muffled bang was then heard at the scene, followed by the sudden eruption of a huge fireball, prompting the surrounding crowd to scream in panic and flee.

During the incident, some people's clothing was set ablaze by the flames, and they fell to the ground and rolled in an attempt to extinguish the fire. Others rushed over to help put out the flames. The accident left 16 people on the scene with varying degrees of burns.

After the accident, Xuanwei authorities immediately launched an emergency response plan, dispatching medical, emergency, and police departments as well as staff from Lefeng Township to the scene to provide treatment for the injured and maintain order.

The Torch Festival is known as the "Oriental Carnival," and is the most important traditional festival for the Yi, Bai, Naxi, and other ethnic minorities in Southwest China. It is usually held on the 24th or 25th day of the sixth month of the lunar calendar each year. During the celebration, locals light torches, dance around bonfires, and smear black on each other's faces to pray for a good harvest and peace.