The estimated crowd in Traslacion amid the Black Nazarene celebration on Tuesday reached 2.8 million, according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
According to the NCRPO Public Information Office (NCRPO-PIO), the number of people was 2,807,700 as of 1 p.m.
This included the number of devotees at Quirino Grandstand, the Traslacion procession, as well as the Quiapo Church.
Church officials said the number of people breached the 1 million mark at around 10 a.m.
Authorities earlier estimated the crowd would reach 2 million for the event that was last held three years ago due to the global CPOVID-19 pandemic.
During this time, devotees from various walks of life have been eagerly anticipating the return of the annual religious event.
In anticipation, the Philippine National Police deployed 18,000 personnel to provide security and crowd control over the procession’s route.
Citing information from the Department of Health, the police said a total of 301 people were injured or ill amid the procession.
No fatality has been reported but a man was seriously injured after he fell from an attempt to climb the andas or wheeled carriage bearing the image of the Black Nazarene.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said its teams treated more than 600 devotees who attended the Traslacion.
Part of the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, Traslacion is the procession of the 400-year-old black image of Jesus Christ or Nazareno from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.
The image of the Black Nazarene left Quirino Grandstand bound for the Quiapo Church at 4:45 a.m.—RF, GMA Integrated News
