MANILA — With millions of devotees expected to crowd the streets for the annual Traslacion of the Black Nazarene on Friday, the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday issued a stark warning about the real and potentially fatal risk of stampede incidents during the massive religious procession.
In a public advisory, the DOH said extreme congestion—especially along narrow streets and choke points—can quickly trigger crowd surges that may lead to serious injuries or deaths if devotees are not alert and prepared.
The health department identified key danger signals that may precede a stampede, including strong pushing from behind, sudden and uncontrollable crowd movement, difficulty lifting one’s feet off the ground, and shortness of breath caused by compression.
“Kapag dadalo sa Traslacion, alamin ang senyales ng stampede at ano ang dapat gawin kung sakaling nangyari ito para ligtas ang paggunita at pamamanata,” the DOH said.
The agency urged devotees who notice any of these warning signs to immediately prioritize personal safety by distancing themselves from the crowd and moving toward less congested areas whenever possible.
“Kapag napansin ang ilan sa mga palatandaang ito, agad na lumayo kung maaari at magtungo sa mas maluwag na lugar,” it added.
The Traslacion, one of the country’s largest religious gatherings, marks the transfer of the image of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno from the Quirino Grandstand back to the Quiapo Church, drawing millions of barefoot devotees in an intense expression of faith.
The procession commemorates the arrival of the revered image from Acapulco, Mexico in the 1600s and its transfer to Quiapo Church in 1767.
Last year’s Traslacion lasted more than 20 hours and drew an estimated 8.1 million devotees, according to police data, highlighting both the scale of the event and the critical importance of crowd safety measures in the densely packed streets of Manila./PN
