MANILA - The Department of Health (DOH) reversed Sunday its earlier report on the 2009 New Year's Eve casualty count.
The DOH had previously announced a lower casualty count in the holiday's celebration.
However, based on the updated reports from 41 to 50 hospitals, the DOH has recorded three deaths from firecracker-related injuries and 848 injuries from firecracker blasts, stray bullets and watusi ingestions.
DOH records show that only 730 people were wounded in the 2008 New Year's Eve revelries, compared to the 920 people wounded this year.
Compared to the 2008 count, the DOH said the number of casualty count this year rose by 26 percent. (Sunnex)