One of the 125 people injured when setting off fireworks to celebrate the Eve of Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing died yesterday morning.

Sources with the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau said the unnamded man, 25, who was seriously wounded in the head, died in hospital despite by doctors' effort to save his life.

A 21-year-old man's left eyeball had to be removed, and another 25-year-old man still in critical conditions, the sources said yesterday.

Fireworks are part of traditional celebrations marking the Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, which falls on Sunday this year.

Since Beijing lifted a 12-year ban in 2006, fireworks have made a loud return to the Chinese capital.

Tongren Hospital, located in downtown Beijing, confirmed 54 people were wounded by fireworks from Saturday evening to 8:00 am yesterday, and performed 16 operations on patients with eye or facial injuries.

The city also reported 114 fire cases caused by fireworks on the New Year's eve, without casualties.