LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – A 57-year-old man died in a fireworks mishap while celebrating New Year in Pamplona town in Camarines Sur province, police said on Tuesday, January 2.
MAP of Camarines Sur with the town of Pamplona highlighted.
The victim was identified as Gerardo, 57, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, Pamplona.
Police said the victim was celebrating New Year with his friends when a JLJ Aquino Flaming Balls, a three-cylinder firework also known as Whistle Bomb, failed to ignite.
The victim tried to reignite the firework but it exploded in the right side of his face.
Gerardo was taken to the Mother Seton Hospital in Naga City where he was declared dead.
Meanwhile, Police Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, Police Regional Office-5 spokesperson, said they recorded 62 fireworks-related injuries in the Bicol region, 29 more than that of the Department of Health (DOH)-Bicol, as of 6 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2.
The Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO) recorded the highest number of fireworks victims with 17, followed by the Camarines Norte PPO with 16, Albay PPO with 10, Naga City Police Office with eight, Sorsogon PPO with seven, and Catanduanes PPO and Masbate PPO with two each.
Calubaquib said that PRO-5 chief Police Brig. Gen. Andre P. Dizon had warned against using illegal fireworks to celebrate New Year. "Hindi nagkulang ang PNP-Bicol sa pagpapa-alala dito sa mga kababayan natin na nagpapaputok. May stern warning tayo sa kanila," she said.
The DOH and PNP end their fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) reporting on January 5.