Sixteen additional cases of injuries due to firecrackers were reported on Friday, bringing the total to 307, representing a 62-percent increase over the previous year’s figure.
The National Capital Region (NCR) logged the highest number with 139 cases, followed by Western Visayas with 37 cases, Ilocos Region with 33, Central Luzon, 24, Region 4-A (Calabarzon), 18, and Bicol Region, 14.
The Department of Health (DOH) noted however, that the 2021 holiday casualties were three percent lower than the five-year average of 317 fireworks-related injuries.
The DOH report showed 167 of the cases occurred on the streets, while 130 took place inside residences.
There were 86 eye injuries, while 20 cases of blast injuries required amputation, the DOH said.
Fifty-one cases or 17 percent of the total allegedly involved drunkenness at the time of injury.
“Two hundred forty-five or 80 percent of the cases involved male aged one to 80 years old,” the DOH said.
The top five injurious fireworks were “kwitis,” boga” (improvised cannon), trayanggulo, 5-star, and fountain. Willie Casas