A Five Star firecracker blasted the left eye of a 47-year-old resident of Barangay Pahanocoy, Bacolod City, as he was ushering in the New Year.

He was one of 31 firecracker victims rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod during the holidays, Dr. Juan Del Rio said yesterday.

The 47-year-old, whose name is being withheld, was holding the Five Star firecracker when it went off rupturing his globe, or left eyeball, the doctor said.

It was operated on, but he will be blind in the left eye, the doctor added.

Of the 31 firecracker victims since December 15, five were injured before December 31, while the 26 others were hurt as Negrenses were ushering in the New Year and the day after, del Rio said.

The rain on January 1 was good because it soaked the unexploded firecrackers that some people usually gather and try to light up again the day after, he also said.

In the 26 New Year-related blasts, three children also lost fingers, del Rio added.

The first New Year celebration victim rushed to the CLMMRH was an 11 year-old boy from Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City.  His cousins lighted Five Star firecrackers and he picked up what looked like a dud, but it exploded, blasting off his right middle finger.

A 7-year-old boy from Barangay 2, Bacolod, also lost a finger on his right hand in a Camara blast.

Meanwhile, police confiscated firecrackers estimated to cost P340,000 and they will be destroyed at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City today.*CPG

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