DOH reports sharp rise in firecracker injuriesMANILA, Philippines — A sharp rise in fireworks-related injuries or FWRI has been reported by the Department of Health (DOH), with cases more than doubling as late hospital reports continue to come in. As of Thursday, 235 cases had been logged nationwide since Dec. 21, 2025, but the figure is expected to climb significantly. “We are seeing a possible increase of 300 cases in the 235 FWRI posted yesterday,” DOH spokesman Albert Domingo said in a radio interview Friday. The initial 235 cases were recorded by 62 DOH sentinel hospitals from Dec. 21, 2025 to the early morning of Jan. 1, 2026. Most injuries in the region were caused by boga and kwitis, with four cases each, followed by dynamite with three.

Source: Philippine Star January 02, 2026 16:36 UTC