TACLOBAN CITY – Fireworks-related injuries in Eastern Visayas tripled this holiday season compared to the same period in 2022.
The Department of Health (DOH)-Eastern Visayas said although there has been no mortality, 24 cases were recorded as of Tuesday, January 2, compared to only eight in 2022.
Jelyn Malibago, DOH-8 information officer, attributed the increase to the easing of restrictions due to the pandemic.
Half of the victims were minors, including a one-year-old girl from this city, who was treated for blast and burns from Kwitis.
Twenty-one sustained blast or burn injuries without amputation, three had eye injuries, and two were admitted to the hospital.
Most of them were injured by Kwitid and “lantaka” or improvised cannon.
Police Regional Office-8 Director Police Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Pawid reported that Christmas and New Year across the region were generally peaceful and no untoward incidents were recorded.
"As of January 2, 2023, there were no reported cases of illegal discharge of firearms, stray bullets, and fire incidents caused by firecrackers," he said.
Two persons were arrested for unauthorized sale of firecrackers in Laoang, Northern Samar, and General MacArthur, Eastern Samar.
Authorities seized 4,006 pieces of illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices worth P137,125, with 1,696 from this city, 1,307 from Eastern Samar, 823 from Leyte, 30 from Northern Samar, and 150 from Samar.