Athens, 16 April 2023 (dpa/MIA) — Several people were injured during Easter fireworks displays in Greece and Cyprus on Saturday night.

In the most serious accident, a 7-year-old girl on the tourist island of Rhodes suffered severe burns and had to be taken to hospital. On Cyprus, a 9-year-old boy was injured in the eye. The police are searching for those responsible, the media of both countries reported unanimously, citing the police.

In Athens, youths hurled dozens of incendiary bottles onto one of the central streets, state radio reported.

People are injured in Greece and Cyprus every year around Easter time. Mainly youthful Orthodox Christians set off large fireworks during the main Mass on Saturday night. On some islands, like Kalymnos, people use home made dynamite bombs.

The Orthodox Churches stick to the Julian calendar in connection with Easter. For Catholics and Protestants, the Gregorian calendar applies. This usually results in the Orthodox celebrating the most important festival in the church year at a different time from the other Christians. This year, Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate Easter on April 16.