MOSCOW, December 25 (RIA Novosti) - About 2,700 people, including some 700 children, have been injured in the last seven years by fireworks, a first deputy Russian interior minister said on Tuesday.

"In the past seven years, about 2,700 people have been injured and 11 people have died," Col. Gen. Alexander Chekalin said, adding that the incidents were caused by the careless handling of fireworks or their low quality.

Interior Ministry data suggests 238 people have been injured this year by fireworks, compared to 261 in 2006.

A Pyrotechnics 2007 police operation is being held from December 20-30 throughout Russia. Counterfeit fireworks to the tune of 28.5 million rubles ($1.2 million) have so far been seized. Last year's operation seized some worth 250 million rubles ($10.1 million) worth of unlicensed fireworks.