A five-year-old boy was left blind in his right eye after being hit in the face by a boga, an improvised cannon, in Barangay Agdahon, Passi City, Iloilo, marking the province’s first recorded firecracker-related injury this season.

According to Police Captain Ma. Rosario S. Miranda, deputy chief and public information officer of the Passi City Police Station, the incident happened while the victim was playing with his 10-year-old sibling and a 7-year-old neighbor. The child was allegedly targeted and struck by the boga fired by his sibling.

The victim is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Iloilo City and is in need of an eye donor.

Authorities reiterated that boga and other improvised cannons are banned by the Philippine National Police and the Department of Health due to the risk of serious injuries, especially during Christmas and New Year celebrations.