• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The number of victims of firecracker-related injuries in Negros Island further increased to 124, as of January 5.
Negros Occidental remains on top of the Department of Health- Negros Island Region list, having the most blast victims with a total 86 cases, followed by highly urbanized Bacolod City with 20, Negros Oriental with 16, and two in Siquijor
Eighty-two of the cases were blast and burn injuries without amputation, 34 eye injuries were logged, 5 were blast and burn injuries with amputation, and two cases of burns without amputation and eye injury, according to DOH NIR.
The fireworks-related injuries this holiday season has reached a total of 771 from all over the country, or 27.6 percent higher from last year’s figures, the DOH said.
In its monitoring from December 22, 2024 to January 2, 2025, the DOH said most injuries were caused by kwitis (rockets), 5-star firecrackers, and boga (improvised cannon).
Many patients suffered from skin burns, with severe cases resulting in amputations.*
