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File photo of children playing with fireworks.
The Philippine STAR / Walter Bollozos
MANILA, Philippines — Fireworks-related injuries surged to 655 cases on Saturday, January 3, with more than half affecting children and teenagers.
After validating more than 300 late reports, the Department of Health (DOH) found that 351 of the cases recorded so far involved children aged 19 and below. All cases, the agency said, resulted in varying degrees of burns and other injuries.
Nineteen of the victims lost their fingers or hands, with 11 of them being minor children.
One of the youngest and most severe cases reported involved a four-year-old who lost four fingers on the right hand and required amputation after a firework was set off.
The leading causes were fireworks that could not be identified, followed by “kwitis” and “5-Star,” according to the data.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said roughly three in five cases were classified as “passive firework injuries,” referring to people who were injured while merely watching fireworks.
Two types of injuries. In an interview on DZMM Radyo Patrol, Herbosa explained that fireworks cause two types of injuries: primary injuries from the blast and smoke, and secondary injuries from projectiles such as shrapnel, which can lead to tetanus.
While firecracker injuries during the 2025 holidays were roughly 20% lower than the 819 recorded in 2024, Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said incidents were more severe.
“Generally, the numbers appear lower, but the injuries seem more severe. That is likely what warrants a deeper analysis,” he said in Filipino over DZBB 594.
Domingo also mentioned an anecdotal report of an infant injured by fireworks, which remains subject to verification.
One fatality. So far, no other firework-related deaths have been recorded during the New Year festivities aside from the 12-year-old boy who was killed after finding an illegal firecracker along the streets of Tondo, Manila on December 28.
The DOH urged Filipinos to seek immediate medical consultation for any scratches or grazes from the holiday fireworks to reduce the risk of tetanus, noting that symptoms typically appear eight to 21 days after exposure.
The public may also avail a free tetanus vaccine from government hospitals, if needed.
