82 ’cracker blast victims in Ilocos

SAN FERNANDO, La Union — Firecracker blast victims in the Ilocos region have reached 82, the regional office of the Department of Health said.

Of the victims aged two to 82, 77 were males and the rest females. Many of the victims were drunk and used prohibited firecrackers, Eloisa Sarmiento of the DOH regional office said.

A resident of Pinili, Ilocos Sur was hit by a stray bullet but was reported to be in stable condition. The number of firecracker blast victims did not include those brought to private hospitals, Sarmiento said.

At the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, there were nine victims of vehicular accidents, mostly riding motorcycles. — Vic Alhambra Jr., Eva Visperas and Artemio Dumlao