MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reported an additional 51 firecracker-related injuries, bringing the total cases to 262.
According to the DOH, the figure exceeds its record in 2021 of 185 injuries.
“These were 42 percent higher compared to 2021 (185 cases) but 15 percent lower compared to the five-year average (308 cases) during the same time period,” the DOH said in its latest tracker as of 6 a.m.
Among the 262 firecracker-related injuries, 126 were from Metro Manila.
The breakdown of the cases per region is as follows:
- Western Visayas – 31
- Ilocos Region – 23
- Central Luzon – 22
- Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) – 13
- Bicol Region – 12
- Cagayan Valley – 8
- Central Visayas – 7
- Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat) – 6
- Cordillera Administrative Region – 4
- Mimaropa (Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon) – 3
- Northern Mindanao – 2
- Davao Region – 2
- Eastern Visayas – 1
- Zamboanga Peninsula – 1
Meanwhile, no firecracker-related injuries were reported in the Caraga Region and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, the DOH noted.
It further pointed out that 80 percent of the total — or 208 injuries — were male victims.
There were 92 victims who sustained hand injuries, while 16 others had blast or burn injuries resulting in amputation.
“One hundred thirty-three (51 percent) of the cases were actively involved. One hundred forty-five (58 percent) cases occurred in the street, while 107 (41 percent) occurred at home,” the DOH said.
Forty-five injuries — accounting for 17 percent of the total — involved victims who were allegedly intoxicated with alcohol at the time of the incident.
Kwitis, a legal firework, was the cause of injury in 55 cases, or 21 percent of the injuries.
Lone stray bullet injury
The DOH likewise reported a stray bullet injury case in the capital region, which it said, falls under the category of firecracker-related injuries.
The lone stray bullet injury involved a 64-year-old woman from Manila who had reportedly been walking to her brother-in-law’s house when the incident happened.
“The case was immediately rushed to the University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital for assessment and medical management,” the DOH said.
According to the department, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has confirmed this stray bullet case in Manila.
But in a televised public briefing on Monday, PNP Public Information Office chief Col. Rederico Maranan said there were two stray bullet cases recorded from Dec. 31, 2022, to Jan. 1, 2023.
“Nagtamo ito ng minor injuries. Nahuli rin naman iyong gumawa nito (They sustained minor injuries, while those behind the firing of the gun had already been caught),” he said.
Maranan noted, however, that the PNP will remain on full alert as it continues to monitor post-New Year’s celebration crimes until Jan. 6.
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