Four individuals in Luzon and in Visayas died due to firecracker-related accidents as the country welcomed the New Year.
According to Jun Veneracion’s report in 24 Oras on Wednesday, among the fatalities was a 44-year old man in Dagupan City, Pangasinan who died after a 5-Star firecracker exploded near his head.
Witnesses said the victim made an improvised bombshell wherein he dropped the firecrackers. He was checking the firecrackers when these suddenly blew up near his face.
He was rushed to the hospital where he died.
“Marami kasi siyang sinindihan na 5-Star, then ayun yung nag-cause ng lacerated wound niya sa may occipital area. May kasama ding kasing skull fracture, siguro nabagok din,” said Camille Navarro, Region 1 Medical Center emergency room assistant manager.
(He lighted so many 5-Stars which caused laceration on his occipital area. He might also have hit his head that’s why he had a skull fracture.)
The fatality is also the 18th victim of firecracker-related incidents who was brought to the regional hospital since December 20.
The youngest victim was an eight-year-old boy from San Fabian, Pangasinan last December 30.
Further, the two other firecracker-related deaths were recorded in Cebu and one also died in Nueva Ecija, a 78-year-old former firecracker maker who severely injured his legs.
The Department of Health, on the other hand, recorded 340 firecracker-related injuries from December 22, 2024 to January 1, 2025 — 34% lower than the 519 cases recorded during the same period last year.
Of the 340 cases, 141 were logged between 6 a.m. of December 31, 2024 to 5:59 a.m. of January 1, 2025. This also translated to a 64% decline compared to the cases recorded on the first day of 2024.
But the figures could go higher due to late reporting.
Further, the cases of indiscriminate discharge of firearms nationwide increased to 27 during the New Year revelry. This is higher than 20 recorded during December 31, 2023.
“Maliban po sa 21 po na naaresto ay may pito pa po tayong at-large na suspek po, bagamat sila ay identified,” said Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, Philippine National Police spokesperson.
(Aside from the 21 that we already arrested, we already identified seven others who are at-large.)
Of the six incidents of stray bullets, three resulted in wounded persons.
“Yung tatlo pong reported injured as a result of stray bullet ay nadala naman po sa ospital at nalapatan ng lunas, so out of danger na po sila as reported to us,” Fajardo added.
(Those three who were reportedly injured due to stray bullets are now out of danger as reported to us.)
—Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News
