FIVE days into 2025, the number of individuals who died and were injured during the New Year revelry continues to climb, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Data from the DOH showed a 54-year-old male from Calabarzon as the latest casualty after sustaining severe injuries from a firecracker blast.
“An additional death was recorded after the victim sustained severe injuries in his left hand due to the blast from a kwitis,” said the DOH.
Including the two other firecracker-related deaths and stray bullet cases, there are now four deaths stemming from the December 31 celebration.
As for firecracker-related injuries, the health department said there are now 832 cases reported from December 22, 2024 to January 5, 2025 (as of 6 am).
“The number is 37 percent higher than the same period last year, which saw 606 total cases,” said the DOH.
In the last 24 hours, 61 firecracker-related injuries were reported in 62 sentinel hospitals.
Kwitis, 5-star, and boga are the most common causes of firecracker-related injuries, said the DOH.
Close to 500 of the injuries or 491 cases involved those aged 19 years old and below, while 341 injuries involved 20 years old and older.
The majority of the victims (685) were males, while the other 147 were females.
