A 78-year-man from Central Luzon became the first fatality from firecrackers , the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday.

The DOH said  he  succumbed to multiple blast injuries he sustained last December 22.

“We now have one recorded death because of firecracker use,” it added.

The victim lighted up the Judas Belt, which a legal firecracker. He was brought to a hospital where passed away on Friday.

 Assistant Health Secretary and spokesman Albert Domingo said: ” Fireworks, even if legal, are dangerous. They are bombs. They explode. They can kill.”

He is one of the 125 victims of firecrackers and fireworks ahead of the New Year revelry.

The data  is  higher than the 97 total cases during the same period last year.

The health department said 91 out of the total cases were caused by illegal firecrackers, including boga, 5-star, and piccolo.

It added that 102  victims were aged 19 years old and below, while 23 are 20 years old and above.