The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Tuesday, Jan. 2, that a man succumbed to death after a pile of firecrackers exploded in Ilocos Region.
In its latest report obtained by RH Boy Gonzales, DOH stated that the 38-year-old male caused the blast after he lit a cigarette stick during a drinking session near a pile of firecrackers.
“Ang unang namatay ay isang 38[years old]/M[ale] mula sa Ilocos Region na nagsindi ng sigarilyo habang nakikipag-inuman sa iba malapit sa nakaimbak na paputok. Hindi dapat magsama ang baril, alak, at paputok,” it said.
The health department also confirmed the first case of stray bullet injury.
The victim, who was said to be a 23-year-old resident of Davao City, got hit by the bullet in his upper back.
“Iniuulat namin ngayon ang unang kumpirmadong stray bullet injury (SBI). Ang kaso ng SBI ay isang 23 taong gulang na lalaki mula sa Davao Region na nagkaroon ng tama ng bala sa kanyang kaliwang itaas na likod,” it said.
The DOH left a reminder to the public to prevent another stray bullet victim: “Magsikap tayo upang maiwasan ang mga pinsala at pagkamatay mula sa ligaw na bala at "aksidente" dahil sa kalasingan. Alam ng mga responsableng may-ari ng baril na ang balang ipinutok pataas ay bababa rin, at hindi gamit para sa pagdiriwang ang baril.”
In the same report, the health department said that it logged 212 new firecracker-related incidents which pushes the overall nationwide record to 443.
Six victims of the 212 new firecracker-related incidents were amputated, and the total of amputation cases now stood at 17.
“Mayroon ding isa (1) pang kaso ng pagkawala ng pandinig, na naging dalawa (2) ang kabuuan. Walang karagdagang ulat ng paglunok hanggang ngayon,” DOH added.
