Two more fireworks casualties tallied as injury toll hits 600

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) logged a new death due to firecracker explosion and four new stray bullet injury (SBI) cases after the celebration of New Year. 

In a statement Friday, the health department said that a 44-year-old male died in the same blast incident, with the first casualty  a 38-year-old man from the Ilocos Region who lit a cigarette while drinking alcohol with other individuals near firecrackers.

Meanwhile, among victims of SB are a 28-year-old female from CALABARZON who sustained a gunshot wound (GSW) to her right arm while watching fireworks; and a 22-year-old female and her 26-year-old brother from the Ilocos region who sustained GWS.

The fourth victim is a 22-year-old male from Northern Mindanao who was shot in his right arm while celebrating with his family. 

Fifteen new cases of fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) were also logged by the health department. 

On Friday, the DOH tallied a total of 600 FWRI, with 313 cases coming from the NCR.

NCR is followed by Ilocos Region with 61; CALABARZON with 49; Central Luzon with 42.

The lowest recorded number of injuries, meanwhile, are recorded in Davao Region with two; Eastern Visayas and MIMAROPA with both three cases .

The DOH said 592 injuries tallied are due to fireworks, while one case is due to Watusi ingestion and seven were due to stray bullets. Four out of 10 cases involved illegal firecrackers. 

Ninety-six percent of the FWRI cases happened at home and on the streets where 375 of the new cases involved legal fireworks.