On the first day of 2024, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that two individuals persihed due to firecracker and stray bullet while celebrating the New Year.
In its 6AM update, the PNP said that 509 people were injured by firecrackers and another person was wounded by a stray bullet in Barangay Fortune, Marikina City.
One person was also reported injured due to illegal discharge of firearms.
The Department of Health (DOH), in its Monday briefing, said it logged 116 new firecracker-related injuries on New Year’s Eve, bringing the total count to 231.
“Ito ang una nating New Year na na-lift na yung public health emergency… so for this nag-umpisa na naman na magpaputok at nakita naman natin na tumaas ng kaunti ang ating fireworks-related injuries,” DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa in a briefing.
Latest data from the DOH showed three more victims had to have fingers amputated while 65 others suffered from eye injuries.
Around 49% of the injuries were from the National Capital Region, followed by Central Luzon (12%), and Ilocos Region (10%). At least seven out of ten injuries were due to kwitis, whistle bomb, luces, fountain, triangle, as well as the illegal 5-Star, boga, piccolo, and pla-pla.
According to Herbosa, there are five victims of stray bullets so far.
