The Department of Health (DOH) reported 25 new firecracker-related injuries in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 188 from Dec. 22 to 6 a.m. on Dec. 31.
This represents a 52 percent increase compared to last year’s total of 124 injuries during the same period.
The DOH said a significant number of the injuries involved minors, with 152 of the 188 total victims being 19 years old or younger.
Of the total cases, 172 victims are male, while 16 are female.
The agency also revealed that 136 (72 percent) of the injuries are linked to illegal fireworks, such as “boga,” “five star,” and “piccolo.”
It added that 123 (65 percent) of the cases involved individuals who were actively using the fireworks at the time of the incident.
As New Year’s celebrations continue, the DOH urged the public to avoid using illegal firecrackers and to prioritize safety to prevent further injuries.