Black Nazarene procession draws 1.5 million to Manila

Around 1.5 million devotees have turned out for a huge annual Roman Catholic procession in Manila.

Each year, a centuries-old wooden statue of Jesus Christ, called The Black Nazarene, is paraded through the Philippine capital.

This year, police and foreign embassies advised attendees to be on alert for possible terror attacks.

The dark wood statue of the Black Nazarene is thought to have been brought to the Philippines by missionaries from Mexico in 1606.

Charred, it survived a fire that destroyed the ship that carried it, as well as later earthquakes and World War Two bombings - making some think it has miraculous powers.

The statue began its tour of the city early in the morning at the Quirino Grandstand.

Crowds of devotees followed the statue, which is also paraded on Good Friday, through the old commercial centre of Manila.

People believe that the statue has healing powers and can cure ailments or convey good fortune.

As the procession - called the traslacion - makes its way through the city, people scramble over each other to touch the statue.

The event results in many injuries every year - this man collapsed from exhaustion.

The Philippine Red Cross said it had treated about 1,200 people for minor ailments and injuries.

Volunteer fire fighters doused the crowd with water to cool them down in the Manila heat.

Security was tight along the route, with officials warning that extremists could attempt to avenge the death of Islamist militant leader Mohammad Jaafar Maguid. He was killed by police last week.

Thousands of police lined the streets, jamming mobile phone signals and banning guns, drones and backpacks from the area.

About 80% of Filipinos are adherents of Roman Catholicism, which some combine with local superstitions and folk traditions.

Images from agencies