‘Suicide by piccolo’ is 1st fireworks fatality amid 66 injuries

A 44-year-old woman from Bulacan province has become the first fireworks-related fatality in this year’s pre-New Year revelry. She died from ingesting explosive powder from several “piccolo" firecracker sticks. National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Eric Tayag cited initial information that the death of the woman, whose identity he withheld as of Saturday afternoon, was a suicide. “Yung isa, nakainom ng tubig may pulbura ng piccolo (That victim drank water laced with piccolo powder), Tayag said in an interview on dwIZ radio. “Lumalabas sa toxicologist ng PGH. Baka singtapang ng lason ng watusi ang piccolo (Findings by toxicologists at the PGH [Philippine General Hospital] showed this. Powder from piccolo appears to be as toxic as watusi), he explained. The NEC head said the woman ingested powder from the equivalent of at least 50 sticks of piccolo. This notorious firecracker, named after a harmless flute, has topped the health authorities’ list of banned fireworks because of its toxic content. Tayag said the woman had to be brought to the PGH in Manila for treatment, although doctors there failed to save her. When asked if they consider the death a suicide, Tayag said, “Parang ganoon ang lumabas [It appears that way]." “Ang unang imbestigasyon, intentional, suicide [Initial investigation showed it was intentional, a suicide]," he said, but refused to elaborate. 66 revelry-related injuries at Xmas Meanwhile, Tayag said at least 66 revelry-related injuries have been recorded from Dec. 21 to 25. He said these include 61 injuries from fireworks, where some of the victims sustained eye injuries. Two were hit by stray bullets. At least three more cases — including the supposed Bulacan suicide — involved ingestion of piccolo powder. Tayag said the victims from stray bullets included a 14-year-old boy hit on the right hand near a church in Manila, and a 21-year-old woman hit on the left hand outside her house in Quezon City. — JV/DM, GMANews.TV