The first Traslacion for Peñafrancia 2024 in Naga City on September 13, 2024 was successful, generally, but not without incidents.
At least 23 devotees were hospitalized after experiencing dizziness and suffering from injuries.
Based on incident reports of the Naga City Police Office (NCPO), 11 men and 12 women experienced dizziness while two suffered from injuries.
Meanwhile, a devotee, a was pronounced dead on arrival at the Bicol Medical Center (BMC) after drowning at the Panganiban area during the Traslacion.
Videos surfaced online showing an alleged altercation between two people, which was believed to have led to the drowning incident.
PLTCOL Chester Pomar of NCPO confirmed the drowning and investigation into the incident continues, as of this writing.
"So meron po tayong isang dead on arrival sa BMC due to drowning... [sa] Panganiban area. Kinukuha pa po ang detalye as of now," Pomar said.
Still, Renne Gumba, Incident Commander at the Joint Operations Center, highlighted the positive aspects of the 2024 procession.
"In general, naging mabilis [o] marikas su procession and medyo nabawasan su mga pasaway na voyador, daeng gayo kadtong sarong taon na nagkahiriling ta. So medyo mas maray ngunyan su dalagan kan procession," Gumba said.
Over 900,000 devotees gathered in Naga City for the Traslacion of the Divino Rostro and Our Lady of Peñafrancia, according to the Multi-Agency Coordination Group (MACG).