Traslacion gets underway from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church

The foot procession Traslacion, in which the miraculous image of the Black Nazarene is brought to the Quiapo Church or the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand, started early morning on Tuesday.

As early as 6 a.m., at least 560,000 devotees have joined the procession that started at the  Rizal Park (Luneta Park) shortly before 5 a.m..

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde told Unang Balita in an interview that at least 7,000 personnel from the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines have been deployed along the six-kilometer route of the Traslacion, which ends at the Quiapo church.

Last year, around two million devotees joined the procession that lasted for 22 hours and 19 minutes.

The Traslacion is the re-enactment of the transfer of the image from San Nicolas Church in Intramuros to the Quiapo Church in 1787.

Meanwhile, around 50,000 devotees gathered within the vicinity of Quiapo Church while as many as 20,000 people have filled its interior and Plaza Miranda grounds.

At least 67 devotees have been brought to stations of the Philippine Red Cross as of 7 a.m. Of this number, 43 experienced increase in blood pressure and the rest suffered minor injuries such as abrasions and lacerations.

The procession reached Maria Orosa and General Luna Streets at 8:15 a.m. and was in front of Manila City Hall at 9:14 a.m.

The image of the Black Nazarene reached the Bonifacio Shrine around 9:45 a.m. and has approached Jones Bridge at 11:52 a.m., almost seven hours since the procession started.

As of 1:22 p.m., the carriage coming from Dasmariñas Street is now traversing the road going to Escolta, Sta. Cruz.

Albayalde said they expect the procession to last until midnight if it maintains its smooth flow.

He reiterated that no imminent threats to the Traslacion have been received. Albayalde said he only received a report about a pickpocket incident.

Here are some photos and videos taken during Tuesday's Traslacion.

WATCH: Andas ng Poong Itim na Nazareno, nasa tapat na ng Manila City Hall. #Traslacion2018
| via @dzbbsamnielsen pic.twitter.com/C517mvuWBZ

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 9, 2018

LOOK: Traslacion ng Poong Itim na Nareno, nagsimula na. #Traslacion2018 | via @dzbbsamnielsen pic.twitter.com/pjzxJVHH4n

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 8, 2018

A throng of Catholic devotees flocks to the Quirino Grandstand during the start of the Traslacion procession of the Black Nazarene image in Manila on Tuesday, January 9, 2018. Danny Pata

As of 5am, estimated number of people at Quiapo Church is 50,000. @gmanews @UnangHirit pic.twitter.com/HTq38DnyCL

— Victoria Tulad (@victoriatulad) January 8, 2018

—Marlly Rome Bondoc/BAP/KG/ALG/RSJ, GMA News