Firecracker-related deaths now 2

MANILA, Philippines — The number of fatalities from firecracker explosions during the holidays has increased to two after another man succumbed to injuries he suffered from lighting a “triangle,” according to the Department of Health.

DOH data showed the victim was a 44-year-old man who died from head injuries.

The DOH report did not say where and when the incident occurred.

The first fatality caused by firecrackers was recorded on Dec. 27 in Central Luzon.

The victim was a 78-year-old farmer who suffered injuries after he lighted a set of firecrackers called Judas’ belt.

Aside from the fatalities, the DOH said there were 170 additional firecracker-related injuries recorded nationwide, bringing the total cases to 704.

The figure, recorded from Dec. 22 to Jan. 3, is 16.9 percent higher than the 602 cases recorded during the same period last year.

Most of the injuries were caused by kwitis, boga, five-star, whistle bomb and unknown fircrackers.

Meanwhile, in Davao del Norte, a 19-year-old student died from a stray bullet on New Year’s Eve.

The bullet reportedly hit Jade Sumambot in the forehead.

Col. Alex Serrano, chief of the Davao del Norte police, said probers have yet to receive the result of an autopsy conducted on the victim.

As this developed, two firecracker-related injuries were recorded in Laguna and Cavite on Wednesday, according to the Calabarzon police.

The first victim, identified as alias Alex, lighted a five-star firecracker he picked up along the street in Barangay San Pablo Norte in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

The firecracker exploded in the victim’s hands. He was brought to the Laguna Medical Center for treatment.

On the same day, a woman was rushed to a hospital after she was hit by a kwitis in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite.

The victim, identified only as Jessa, was buying medicine in Barangay Granados when the kwitis hit her in the face.

In Bulacan, up to 64 fireworks-related incidents were reported from Dec. 21 to Jan. 2.

Of the province’s towns and cities, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Obando and Paombong have no reported cases of injuries due to firecrackers.

In the Cordilleras, the number of injuries related to the celebration of the New Year increased by 17, including new cases of stray bullets in Kalinga.

The figure was recorded from Jan. 1 to 2. No death was recorded during the period.

The additional cases brought the  number of fireworks-related injuries in the Cordilleras to 42 as of Jan. 2.

In Negros, 96 firecracker-related injuries were recorded from Dec. 21 to Jan. 2.

Health officials based on Negros Island said the victims included 62 minors.

Negros Occidental reported the most number of injuries with 59, followed by Bacolod City with 20.

Negros Oriental and Siquijor had 15 and two firecracker-related injuries, respectively.