Firecracker-related injuries hit 211 — DOH

(INQUIRER file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — The number of firecracker and fireworks-related injuries has jumped to 211 after 74 additional cases were reported on Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

The said total, collated from December 21 to January 2, is 16 percent higher than 182 cases recorded over the same period in the previous year.

“Kwitis” is the leading cause of injury, accounting for 45 or 21 percent of all cases. 

 Seventy-nine percent of the victims are male.

Almost half of all the injuries occurred in Metro Manila, where 102 cases — or 48 percent of the total — were reported.

While the DOH said there was no reported case due to stray bullet injury, the police reported at least two cases in the province of Abra.

 gsg/abc