FILE PHOTO: 鈥淛udas Belt鈥� or聽 鈥淪inturon ni Hudas,鈥� a type of firecracker that makes multiple explosions and is tagged as an illegal firework under Philippine law. 鈥� The first firecracker-related death 鈥� a 78-year-old man 鈥� since December 22, 2024, was recorded in Central Luzon, the Department of Health (DOH) disclosed Saturday, December 28. INQUIRER FILES / BULACAN POLICE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The first firecracker-related death 鈥� a 78-year-old man 鈥� since December 22 was recorded in Central Luzon, the Department of Health (DOH) disclosed Saturday.
The DOH told reporters in a message that the man was actively involved in igniting a 鈥淛udas Belt鈥� or聽 鈥淪inturon ni Hudas,鈥� a type of firecracker that makes multiple explosions and is tagged as an illegal firework under the law.
According to the agency, the elderly man was first sent to the hospital on Dec. 22 and died there on Friday, Dec. 27.
Due to this incident, the DOH reiterated its warning to the public about the dangers of firecrackers 鈥� illegal or not.
READ: Firecracker-related injuries rise to 125 few days before New Year 2025
It also urged the public to opt for other noise-making alternatives such as drums and horns to welcome the New Year to avoid harm.
鈥淜ahit legal ang fireworks, delikado pa rin. Bomba pa rin yan. Sumasabog. Nakamamatay. Iwas paputok na po tayo para sa ating buhay,鈥� DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said.
(Even though fireworks are legal, they are still dangerous. They are still bombs. They explode. They are deadly. Let鈥檚 avoid fireworks for our lives.)
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The total number of firecracker-related injuries recorded as of 6 a.m., Saturday, December 28, was at 125. It was 24 cases more than the 101 that the DOH reported on Friday.
The 125 cases was likewise 29 percent higher than the 97 firecracker-related injuries logged in the same period in 2023.