Fireworks sales fizzle during Lunar New Year

The sale of fireworks and firecrackers - and injuries related to their use - saw a sharp decrease during the Lunar New Year compared with last year, sources with the Beijing municipal government's fireworks administration office said on Monday.

A total of 370,000 cartons of fireworks were sold in the same period in the city, a 35 percent decrease compared with the 570,000 cartons sold in the same period last year.

In addition, 210 people were injured in fireworks-related accidents over the past 16 days, down 23 percent year-on-year, according to the office.