Hospitals across Central Visayas welcomed 347 holiday-related injury cases as families lit fireworks and filled the streets to celebrate the New Year.
Health workers remained on high alert throughout the Yuletide period to manage the surge in patients.
The Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH 7) reported 73 fireworks-related injuries and 274 road crash injuries from December 21, 2025, until 6:00 a.m. on January 1, 2026, based on reports from sentinel and non-sentinel hospitals in the region.
Fireworks injuries showed an 8 percent decrease compared to the 79 cases recorded during the same period in 2025.
Cebu province recorded the highest number of fireworks injuries with 27 cases, followed by Cebu City with 20, Lapu-Lapu City with 16, Bohol with 9, and Mandaue City with 1.
DOH 7 confirmed that no cases of fireworks ingestion or stray bullet injuries occurred during the monitoring period.
Road crash injuries remained the majority of cases, with drivers comprising the largest group at 169 injuries, followed by rear passengers with 77, pedestrians with 20, and front passengers with 8.
Among these incidents, 139 were classified as collision-related and 135 as non-collision accidents, reflecting the range of hazards faced by motorists and commuters during the busy holiday travel period.
DOH 7 continued to remind the public to exercise caution, drive defensively, and obey traffic regulations.
The agency also reiterated guidance on the safe use of fireworks, urging residents to use them only in designated areas and to avoid illegal pyrotechnics.
For emergencies, the public can contact the National Emergency Hotline 911 or the DOH 7 Regional Patient Navigation and Referral Unit at #0711.
DOH 7 noted that reported figures may still change as data reconciliation and validation continue.
Photo from CCDRRMO Facebook
