Stray bullets wound 4, firecrackers hurt 39

FOUR people were injured by stray bullets while 39 were hurt because of firecracker blasts in Zamboanga City after the Christmas and New Year revelry, a local health official reported.

Dr. Jejunie Rivera, spokesman of the government-run Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC), said Friday three males and a female were rushed to the ZCMC for treatment of stray bullet injuries.

This happened despite the stern warning of the government against the firing of guns on Christmas and New Year festivities.

Rivera, meanwhile, said 24 firecracker-related injuries, mostly from “piccolo” and “triangle”, were admitted to the ZCMC during the New Year’s Eve revelry.

The hand of one of the victims has to be amputated due a damaged cause by the firecracker explosion.

He disclosed that they have recorded a total of 39 victims of firecracker explosions as of 4 a.m. of January 1. The ZCMC started its monitoring on Christmas Eve, he said.