Firework-related injuries recorded during the New Year celebrations declined significantly compared with last year, according to a Department of Health (DOH) advisory released Thursday.
The DOH reported a total of 235 firework-related injury cases nationwide from Dec. 21, 2025 to Jan. 1, 2026. Of this number, 62 cases were recorded on New Year’s Day as Filipinos welcomed 2026 with traditional firework displays.
The agency said the current figure is 42 percent lower than the 403 cases reported during the same period last year, covering the start of 2025.
Data from the DOH showed that the majority of victims were young people, with 161 cases involving individuals aged 19 years old and below, accounting for 79 percent of the total. Meanwhile, 32 percent of the injured were aged 20 years old and above.
Most of the injuries were attributed to unidentified types of fireworks, as well as boga and five-star firecrackers.
Despite the decline, health officials cautioned that the number of cases may still increase, as surveillance operations will continue until Jan. 5.
The DOH urged the public to immediately seek medical attention for burns or wounds caused by fireworks to prevent complications and infections. It warned that untreated injuries could lead to tetanus, a potentially fatal condition without timely medical care.
All reported cases were collected from 62 sentinel hospitals nationwide designated by the DOH to monitor firework-related injuries.
