CHICHIBU, Saitama -- Fragments from huge skyrockets that were launched during a festival here hit several people, leaving one person seriously injured, police said.

The accidents occurred after the hand-made rockets, measuring about 20 meters long and 10 centimeters in diameter, were launched during the Ryusei Festival at Muku Shrine in Chichibu.

At about 9:40 a.m. on Sunday, a 66-year-old farmer working in a field 200 meters north of the festival location was hit by a 17-meter-long fragment weighing 16 kilograms, leaving him with injuries to his head.

About 4 1/2 hours later, a 23-year-old man in a spectator stand about 150 meters away from the launch pad was hit by a fragment and suffered a broken right shoulder bone. Two other people suffered injuries including a cut lip.

The rockets used at the festival were made from red pine that was split and stuffed with gunpowder. They rose to altitudes of about 300 meters. On Sunday, a total of 33 rockets were launched, aimed at a mountain to the north.

Local officials said that the first accident happened because a parachute failed to open, causing the rocket to go further than expected.

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