Nearly 300 injured, 1 dead due to fireworks in WV

The number of people who sustained fireworks-related injuries increased to nearly 300 in Western Visayas, data from the Department of Health (DOH-6) showed.

From Dec. 21, 2023 to January 6, 2024, the DOH-6 logged a total of 294 fireworks-related injuries, higher compared to 212 cases recorded from Dec. 22, 2022 to January 6, 2023.

Negros Occidental had the most number of victims with 103 cases, followed by Iloilo province with 97 cases, Aklan with 33 cases, Antique with 19 cases, Iloilo City with 11 cases, Guimaras with three cases and Bacolod City with one case.

According to DOH, most of the injuries were due to kwitis and boga or a makeshift cannon made of bamboo and PVC pipes.

Capiz reported one fireworks-related fatality. A 28-year-old man in the town of Dao died after his improvised pyrotechnic device exploded.IMT