The Department of Health (DOH) has reported that over 500 people have sustained injuries from firecrackers during the New Year festivities, as of Thursday.
The DOH’s latest data revealed that 188 additional firecracker-related injuries were recorded on December 31, New Year’s Eve. Furthermore, three cases were reported on the night of January 1, with three more from earlier days being added to the tally. As of January 2, the total number of injuries stands at 534, marking a 9.8% decrease from the 592 cases reported during the same period in 2024.
The DOH identified “kwitis”—a legal yet dangerous firecracker—as the primary cause of these injuries, surpassing the previously leading culprit, the improvised cannon known as “boga.” Other firecrackers responsible for numerous injuries include the 5-star and whistle bomb.
The majority of the injured were male (443 cases), with a significant number of them being young people under the age of 19 (322 cases). The DOH continues to urge the public to avoid firecrackers and prioritize safety during the holiday celebrations.
