A total of 843 individuals got injured while welcoming the New Year, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
“This is 38 percent higher compared to the 610 total cases last year,” the DOH said of the persons who sustained firecracker-related injuries from December 22, 2024 to January 6, 2025.
In the past 24 hours, 11 more firecracker-related injuries were reported by DOH sentinel hospitals.
The death toll among revelers ended at four, according to the department – three killed by firecracker blasts and one due to a stray bullet.
Kwitis, 5-star, and boga are the most common causes of firecracker-related injuries, said the DOH.
Close to 500 of the injuries or 499 cases involved those aged 19 years old and below, while 344 injuries involved those 20 years and older.
A large majority of the victims (696) were males while the other 147 were females.
In an earlier press conference, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said they will continue to push for measures that will further reduce such cases during the New Year revelry.
“Deaths and disability are our number one public health concerns when it comes to fireworks and firecrackers,” he said. “We won’t stop until we reach zero.”
