New Year firecrackers claim two lives in Germany

BERLIN, Jan 01(Agencies): Firecrackers left two people dead, a child injured and five people requiring amputations during New Year celebrations in Germany, police and emergency services said Monday.

A 35-year-old man and a 19-year-old died when fireworks went off in their faces in the eastern state of Brandenburg, regional police said on Twitter.

A firework thrown by a group of youths left an 11-year-old boy with severe facial injuries in the same region, regional daily Markische Allgemeine reported.

The paper described the firework as a "Polish rocket" sold on the Polish border and which typically contains more explosive than those which retail in Germany.

In Berlin, five people had hands or fingers amputated after suffering severe injuries with fireworks leaving 21 people hurt overall in the capital, according to hospital officials.

Firework-related accidents, fires and assorted injuries are a regular feature of New Year celebrations in Germany.

Meanwhile, a huge fire has destroyed up to 1,400 vehicles in a multi-storey car park in Liverpool, forcing many people to spend New Year's Eve in a temporary shelter.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze at King's Dock - next to the Liverpool Echo Arena - was one of the worst it had ever dealt with.

An accidental fire in one car which spread to other vehicles appeared to have been the cause, police said.

Nearby apartments were evacuated due to smoke.

People who had parked in the multi-storey described being "frightened" by the noise as car windows exploded.

They said emergency services warned them their cars would be lost to the blaze.

LIVERPOOL: Burned-out cars are seen inside the multi-storey car park close to the Echo Arena on Monday. — AFP