The repercussions of an illegal fireworks explosion in Honolulu continue to unfold as victims are suffering from injuries likened to those incurred on a battlefield. According to ABC15, Dr. Kevin Foster, who is overseeing treatment at the Arizona Burn Center, described injuries from the incident involving flying particles and debris, stating, "In addition to the thermal injury that comes from the heat and the flame and the fire, we also have an explosive nature to this with particles moving at very high speeds striking patients."
In a tragedy that struck on New Year's, flying to Arizona for medical assistance were six Hawaii residents due to the explosion. Four people lost their lives in the blast, one of them being a child of only three years old, and around 20 more were injured. Due to the incapacity of Hawaii’s burn unit to handle the influx of patients, the U.S. military intervened on January 4. Sailors in the U.S. military carried the wounded on a flight to Arizona, as reported by AP News.
Addressing the unforeseen complications of the injuries, Foster emphasized that only upon surgical intervention the magnitude of the injuries became evident. "You really have to get into the operating room and start operating on these people to really understand that. So it’s not surprising that nobody picked up on this," Foster elucidated, as per AP News. These injuries led to some unusual infections, but Foster reassured that this was anticipated and manageable, given the center's prior experience with firework-related injuries.
Wrapped in the grim aftermath of the explosion is a three-story home in Honolulu, where the incident unfolded on its carport level. In response to this deadly event, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green has suggested a slew of new penalties to curb illegal fireworks. The measures include an investment of $5.2 million sought by the state Department of Law Enforcement to boost their forensic lab capabilities and bolster their staff with eight additional hires, aiming to staunch the rampant smuggling and misuse of fireworks.
