Manila, Philippines — A woman was crushed to death and a man killed Wednesday during the parade of the 400-year-old "Black Nazarene" in the Philippine capital Manila, police and hospital officials said.
At least 20 others were injured as up to 100,000 people packed the streets around Quiapo church in downtown Manila for the annual parade of a black icon of Jesus Christ.
"It appears her chest was crushed," the spokesman for the Philippine General Hospital, Michael Tee, told AFP.
Manila Hospital also reported the death from an unspecified cause of a 44-year-old man who took part in the day-long procession of the icon popularly known as the "Black Nazarene".
The two hospitals reported treating 18 other people who took part in the festival.
Manila police spokesmen told AFP a crowd of between 80,000 and 100,000 took part in the procession.
The "Black Nazarene" -- venerated by millions in the mainly Roman Catholic Philippines for its supposedly miraculous powers -- is wheeled out on a float from its permanent site in Quiapo church on January 9.
Devotees walk to the church barefoot dressed in maroon clothing and join the procession, during which they try to rub hand towels on the icon for good luck.
Each year dozens of people are killed or injured in the wild frenzy to touch the icon.