Firecrackers remain dangerous whether sold legally or illegally, the Department of Health (DOH) warned on Saturday, Dec. 27, as firework-related injuries nationwide climbed to 57 cases—including two children who lost fingers in separate explosions.
DOH Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) Director Tina Marasigan reported that an eight-year-old child lost his index finger and thumb after a whistle bomb exploded, while a 16-year-old also suffered finger amputations after being injured by a Five Star firecracker.
“Dalawang bata po ang nagtamo ng paso at naputulan pa ng daliri sa magkahiwalay na insidente nang masabugan ng paputok—hintuturo at hinlalaki ang nalagas mula sa isang walong taong gulang na bata nang masabugan ng whistle bomb habang dalawang daliri rin ang naputol sa labing-anim na taong gulang na bata nang masabugan ng Five Star,” she said during a DOH radio program.
Based on the DOH’s latest monitoring, 35 of the 57 firework-related injuries involved minors, with all victims sustaining multiple injuries or burns on different parts of the body.
Even if the number of cases is 49 percent lower compared with the 112 cases recorded on the same date in 2024, the DOH stressed that firecrackers remain a serious hazard.
In addition, Marasigan said that Five Star firecrackers were the leading cause of injuries, followed by Kwitis, Boga, and Triangle.
The health department also noted that smoke from firecrackers poses a higher asthma risk to children and senior citizens. (Jel Santos)
