140 injured due to firecrackers as of Dec. 30
Russel Benito, 12, sleeping on a bench inside the Emergency Department and Trauma Center in East Ave. Medical Center while cradling his right arm in a sling. A nurse on duty said his index finger was severely injured due to a “kwitis” that exploded in his right hand requiring surgery and possible amputation. There were fewer cases of firecracker accident victims brought to EAMC this New Year after the implementation of a firecracker ban in Quezon City. —INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
A total of 140 injuries due to fireworks were recorded from Dec. 21 up to 4 a.m. on Dec. 30, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday, citing data from 62 sentinel hospitals.
It added that of the 140 injured, 95 or 68 percent were ages 19 and below, with 78 between the ages of 5 and 14.
Most of the injuries were due to 5-star firecrackers, “boga” or an improvised cannon usually made from a PVC pipe, and other unknown firecrackers.
The DOH, however, said this year’s 140 firecracker-related injuries were 23 percent lower compared to the same period in 2024 that registered 182 cases.
