Manila: An eight-year-old boy’s right hand was severed due to a firecracker branded “Yolanda”, the local name of Typhoon Haiyan which damaged Philippines’s Leyte and Samar on November 8, in central Philippines on Tuesday.

He is the 262nd victim of firecrackers and stray bullets ahead of New Year’s Eve, a senior official reported.

A 40-year old woman in Manila became the eighth victim of random gun firing before New Year’s Eve, said Eric Tayag, head of the National Epidemiology Centre.

He added that no one has died yet from the country’s violent celebration of New Year’s Eve.

Since December 21, 253 people have been injured due to firecrackers, eight people wounded from accidental gunshots, and one injured from firecracker ingestion.

The number of incidents could increase as the countdown begins for the New Year.

“We expect an average of 50 to 80 fireworks and stray bullets related injuries per hour from six in the afternoon of December 31 to six in the morning of January 1,” said Tayag.

His prediction could mean 600 to 960 more firecracker and stray bullet related incidents, analysts said.

They added that this could be the highest figure yet to be recorded in the country’s New Year revelry-related incidents.

The emergency rooms of all public hospitals look like war zones since December 20.

The government authorities continue to warn about the dangers of using firecrackers and guns to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Meanwhile, Jose Nolledo expressed fear that he might not be able to get three packs of blood that he needs after suffering from sudden low red blood cell count due low supply of blood at Saint Luke’s Medical Centre in suburban Quezon City.

“All private and public hospitals, including the Red Cross and the military have been guarding their blood banks — they are not releasing blood-bags — in preparation for the high number of people who might be injured during and after New Year’s Eve,” said Nolledo.

The much-needed blood supply came in for Nolledo after lunch and within an hour he was out of the hospital.

“Now I can do a last minute shopping for my family’s midnight snacks.”

He referred to Noche Buena, a traditional meal shared by family members at midnight of December 31.

At 3pm, bus terminals, sea and airports in Metro Manila were congested because the workers were allowed to leave their offices at 2.30pm.

“I have to reach my home and have Noche Buena with my family in [suburban] Cavite,” said Jeffrey Oliman, a waiter at Tomato Grill, a restaurant at St. Luke’s Medical Centre.

He bought his supply of firecrackers at the bus terminal.

“This will brighten our New Year celebration,” he said.

In the Philippines, it is a tradition to celebrate New Year’s Eve dangerously.

Majority of Filipino Christians believe that firecrackers can drive away evil spirits came from China, historians said.

The Philippine National Police has been warning policemen about indiscriminate firing.

Government authorities have been regulating the sale and use of firecrackers, but all these measures have never silenced the country’s New Year’s Eve.

About 400 were injured in last year’s New Year’s Eve celebration.