More firecracker-related injuries reported in Southern Tagalog as weather improves

SAN PEDRO CITY — The number of people injured from firecrackers continued to rise on Wednesday in the Southern Tagalog regions as the weather improves.

In Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon (Calabarzon), health workers monitored 32 more blast incidents as of Wednesday morning, making a total of 50 cases recorded from December 21.

The number of firecracker-related incidents also rose to 22 as of Wednesday from five cases in Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan (Mimaropa).

The Department of Health (DOH) said the majority of casualties were male, aged three to 69.

“There could be more in the coming days, especially as the weather starts to improve,” said Ramonito Martin of Health Emergency Management Staff in Mimaropa.

DOH director in Calabarzon Dr. Eduardo Janairo attributed the lower incidence of firecracker-related injuries this year to the heavy rains on New Year’s Eve and to the government’s policies against firecrackers.

Still, some of the injuries were caused by firecrackers that are prohibited like picolo or boga, although most injuries were from sparklers and fireworks.

No death was recorded in either region. /ee