The Department of Health (DoH) reported on Sunday that it has logged a total of 142 cases of firecracker-related injuries just two days before New Year’s Eve.

In its bulletin, the Health department disclosed that the figure — covering 22 to 29 December — was 35 percent higher than the similar cases recorded last year, with only 105 during the same period.

The majority, or 127, of the injured, were male, while 15 were female, while 115 were 19 years old or below, and 27 were above 20 years old.

At least 73 percent (104) were caused by illegal fireworks such as boga, 5-star, and piccolo, while 60 percent (85) actively used fireworks.

A 78-year-old male from Central Luzon was the first casualty related to fireworks, the DoH announced Saturday.

The senior citizen reportedly lit a Judas belt, which hit him on the eye and thigh. He was rushed to the hospital on 22 December but succumbed five days later.

Meanwhile, road traffic incidents this holiday season climbed to 418 with 68 new additional cases.

The numbers, which covered the same period of 22 to 29 December, was a 38 percent increase than those logged in 2023.

The data showed that 356 of the total cases were those not wearing safety accessories, 291 were involved in motorcycle accidents, and 70 were those under the influence of alcohol.