DOH logs 211 fireworks-related injuries on first 2 days of 2023

FILE: Fireworks entertain visitors of the Quezon Memorial Circle along Elliptical Road in Quezon City as they welcome the new year on Sunday (Jan. 1, 2023). Authorities said the New Year’s Day celebration was generally peaceful and injuries related to firecrackers minimal. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Monday an additional 74 more injuries related to fireworks, bringing the overall tally to 211 for Jan. 1 and 2.

Of the total injuries, 109 cases occurred on the streets.

Sixty sustained eye injuries while there were 11 cases of blast injuries that required amputation.

The National Capital Region logged the highest number with 102 cases.

Western Visayas also reported 25 cases; Central Luzon, 20; Ilocos Region, 13; Calabarzon, 11; and Bicol Region, 11.

The latest case bulletin stated that the figure is 16 percent higher than the 182 cases during the same period last year.

“The 182 cases were 30 percent lower compared to the five-year average of 300 cases during the same period,” the DOH said.

“Kwitis,” a skyrocket type of firework that is legal, was the most common cause of injury with 45 cases.

Meantime, “boga” (improvised cannon) caused 27 injuries; triangle-shaped firecracker 5-star, 19 injuries; and fountain fireworks, 12 injuries.

There were no reported cases of fireworks or firecrackers ingestion nor fireworks-related deaths.

Meanwhile, the province of Pangasinan recorded 38 firecracker-related injuries from Dec. 21, 2022 to Jan. 1.

In an interview on Monday, Col. Jeff Fanged, Pangasinan Police Provincial Office director, said the data showed minor injuries, like burns, caused by, among others, boga, kwitis and sparklers.

Fanged said they also confiscated 1,945 assorted illegal firecrackers from vendors.

“Overall, the New Year revelry in Pangasinan was generally peaceful,” he said. (With reports from Hilda Austria/PNA)