NINE million people joined the yearly Feast of the Black Nazarene and left 30 trucks of trash in their wake, the National Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Thursday. The agency said that the figures came from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino, who said that the tally was at nine million as of 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The agency also said at least 24 devotees were injured or fainted, even as the Red Cross noted 860 minor injuries, 36 “major” injuries and 577 blood pressure consults.

During the procession, the Red Cross recorded 1,500 injuries, although Operation Commander Rommel Lozada said that there were a few more patients after the procession but they didn’t include it in the tally. The recorded injuries were 860 minor injuries, 36 major injuries and 577 blood pressure monitoring.

Mountains of trash
Over 30 trucks of garbage were collected by MMDA cleaners after the procession.

MMDA Metro Parkway Clearing Group Head Francis Martinez said that they have collected 192 tons of garbage, or 32 truckloads since Tuesday.

Martinez said that most of the waste materials collected were plastic bottles, candy, biscuit and wafer wrappers, crumpled plastic bag and some spoiled food.

The cleaning was quite easy for Metropolitan department as its sweepers started cleaning up the streets, while the devotees moved toward the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene from the starting point at the Quirino Grandstand.

Cleaning teams from department and the city government of Manila were deployed on Thursday in Quiapo to collect the garbage left behind by the devotees. The cleaning teams and the residents living near Plaza Miranda worked together and cleaned the area a few hours after the image of the Balck Nazarene was brought back to Quaipo Church.