Zambo City's 13th firecracker victim loses 3 fingers

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Thirteen people have been reported injured due to firecrackers in this souther port city amid the intensified campaign by the health department to discourage the public from using pyrotechnics in welcoming the New Year.

 

Dr. Romeo Ong, Zamboanga City Medical Center director, said the hospital has been placed on alert to attend to would-be firecracker victims.

 

Ong said that since the 13 firecraker injuries were recorded since December 21 until December 31.

 

The last reported victim was 47-year-old Franklyn Arcillas, a fishing boat crew. He lost three fingers to a “superlolo” that exploded on his hand on Sunday afternoon.

 

Arcillas, who lost his thumb, index and middle fingers on his right hand, was confined at the medical center.

 

The boat crew said that one of this drinking buddies lighted the firecracker and placed it inside a can. He said that he picked up the can, not knowing that the firecracker was already lighted.

 

“It was unfortunate that this happened to me even before the New Year. Don't light a firecracker so you can have a really happy New Year," Arcillas said when interviewed by the media while in his hospital bed.

 

Ong, meantime, said that most of the injured victims were minors and majority of them were injured by a firecracker called Piccolo.

 

Among these children was 9-year-old Norman andung, who was hit in his left eye.