ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 8 January) – This city recorded the most fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) in Region 9 or the Zamboanga Peninsula, including parts of the Bangsamoro Autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), during the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, the Department of Health – Region 9 (DOH-9) said on Sunday.
Out of the 60 FWRI in the area, Zamboanga City logged 21 cases, followed by Zamboanga del Sur with 14, Zamboanga del Norte with 12, Zamboanga Sibugay with six, Isabela City in Basilan with four, and three more in other parts of BARMM, DOH-9 said on its Facebook page
DOH-9 conducted the monitoring from December 21, 2023 until Saturday, January 6.
Piccolo is the most commonly used firecracker of the injured victims with 37 cases, followed by triangle with five, kwitis with four, boga with three, lantaka with three, and one each from bombshell, Dragon firecracker, Roman candle and whistle bomb. The fireworks that caused injury to the four other cases were not identified.
Zamboanga Peninsula had no reported deaths related to fireworks.
The Zamboanga Peninsula Center for Health Development said that 31 hospitals and disease reporting units participated in the FWRI surveillance.
They included the Zamboanga City Medical Center, Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center, Basilan General Hospital, Brent Hospital Colleges, Inc., Sulu Sanitarium and General Hospital, Zamboanga City Health Office and the Zamboanga Peninsula Medical Center, among others. (Frencie L. Carreon / MindaNews)
