180 injured in Ivrea Carnival orange battle

| Tue, 02/20/2007 - 05:58

Some 180 people were injured in this year's Battle of the Oranges, the high point of carnival celebration in this suburb of Turin.

An estimated 120,000 people flocked to Ivrea for the costume pageant which aside from the citrus tossing also included a parade of marching bands and folklore groups.

"It was a great success and confirmed how this event is popular both at home and abroad," organizers said.

Hotels in the area said they had no vacanices throughout the weekend.

The 180 injuries were a sharp decline from ten years ago when 445 needed medical treatment after engaging in the fierce organ fight.

Most of the injuries were caused by full-blooded blows from oranges hurled to and from a cart pulled by oxen through the streets of the city, in picturesque and supposedly fun- filled re-enactment of more serious medieval frays between warring clans.

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