New Year's Eve celebrations in Brazil marred by defective fireworks

New Year's Eve celebrations in the Brazilian city of Rio das Ostra turned into complete pandemonium, with revellers forced to flee a party due to dangerous fireworks causing several fires.

The fireworks started to explode all at once, with officials uncertain whether it was a fire that caused this or whether the mass explosion is what caused the fire.

According to the local municipal authority, it was a manufacturing defect in the fireworks that caused the chaos and not human error.

They are awaiting the results of an official investigation before taking any action against the company who manufacture the fireworks.

The fires reached public celebrations in Praça da Baleia, commonly known as Whale Square by locals and tourists.

Ten people were treated at the local emergency room after presenting with burns, all have now been released.

Source: Globo