New year fireworks-related injuries now at 593

Reynaldo Santos Jr

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New year fireworks-related injuries now at 593
(UPDATED) The number of cases is still lower compared to the tally in the same period last year
MORE VICTIMS. Filipinos injured from a firework accident queue for treatment inside a government hospital in Manila on January 1, 2015. Photo by Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Department of Health reported on Friday, January 2, that fireworks-related injuries following the New Year’s Eve revelry is now at 593.

As of 6 am Friday, January 2, a total of 593 cases have been reported – a 69% jump from the 351 cases initially reported on January 1.

  January 2 January 1
Fireworks injuries 580 346
Stray bullet 10 3
Fireworks ingestion 3 2
TOTAL 593 351

Though the figure may still go up as the DOH finalizes its tally, it is still lower compared to the 804 cases of fireworks-related injuries from 50 hospitals nationwide reported last year, as stated in the DOH report posted on the Official Gazette (gov.ph).

  January 2, 2015 January 2, 2014
Fireworks injuries 580 793
Stray bullet 10 9
Fireworks ingestion 3 2
TOTAL 593 804

Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag, meanwhile, tweeted that there were 986 cases reported in the same period last year.

For this year, cases of eye injuries and amputations have also increased –almost double just after a day.

  January 2 January 1
Eye injuries 103 59
Amputation 25 14

Piccolo, the main injury-causing firecracker, has now produced 223 cases of injuries – up from the 166 cases reported on January 1.

Despite the increase in injuries, the DOH said there are still no verified reports of casualties related to firecrackers or fireworks use in connection to the recent festivities.

Tayag earlier said that they are expecting figures to increase as they continue to monitor cases of firework-related injuries until January 5.

Crackdown on firecrackers

The Philippine National Police said on January 3 it confiscated 127,930 firecrackers during the 2014 holiday season.

More than half or 55% of reported injuries were attributed to illegal fireworks, but the rest were caused by legally sold ones, according to DOH.

From December 16, 2014 to January 3, 2015 police also arrested 55 persons for selling illegal fireworks. – Rappler.com

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