Firecracker-related injuries rise to 125 few days before New Year 2025

FILE PHOTO: Children light firecrackers at Juan Luna Street in Manila on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2023. – Firecracker-related injuries climbed to 125 just a few days before New Year 2025.  Based on the latest report from the Department of Health (DOH), 24 more people were wounded due to fireworks in the last 24 hours, or from 6 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, to 6 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28. INQUIRER / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Firecracker-related injuries climbed to 125 just a few days before New Year 2025.

Based on the latest report from the Department of Health (DOH), 24 more people were wounded due to fireworks in the last 24 hours, or from 6 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, to 6 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28.

All 125 cases were logged since December 22 from 62 sentinel hospitals nationwide, the DOH added.

“Ninety-one (73 percent) of the cases were due to illegal firecrackers, particularly boga, 5-star, and piccolo, in which 75 (60 percent) cases actively used fireworks,” the agency said in an advisory written in mixed Filipino and English.

READ: Firecracker victims are mostly children, says DOH

The DOH also said that of the total number of victims, 102 were aged 19 and below while 114 were males.

The 125 firecracker-related injuries are higher than the 101 reported by the DOH on Friday. It was also higher than the 97 cases posted in the same period in 2023.

READ: Gov’t agencies start fireworks monitoring

The DOH renewed its appeal to the public to avoid the use of any type of firecrackers and instead opt for alternatives such as drums and horns to welcome the New Year.

It also repeated its reminder that selling firecrackers or fireworks to minors is illegal.

The DOH likewise urged the public to contact the National Emergency hotline 911 and their hotline 1555 in cases of emergency.