Balloons That Exploded In Putrajaya And Injured 16 People Found To Have Contained Hydrogen
The balloons were filled with hydrogen, which is highly sensitive to flames.
By Arisha Rozaidee — 14 Oct 2019, 03:26 PM
A total of 16 people were injured when balloons exploded during a fitness event in Putrajaya recently
According to Free Malaysia Today, the incident took place during the Ministry of Education's National Sports Month 2019 celebration on Saturday, 12 October.
The 16 victims, including nine children, were rushed to Putrajaya Hospital. They are currently being treated at the Emergency and Trauma Department.
Previously, many had reported that the balloons were filled with helium gas, but the police discovered that hydrogen gas was used instead
New Straits Times reported today, 14 October, that Putrajaya district police chief ACP Rosly Hassan confirmed that it was not helium inside the balloons.
He also explained that hydrogen gas is highly sensitive to flames.
Police believe that someone used a cigarette lighter to burn the string tied to the balloons, causing a whole bunch to explode
In a report by theSun, Rosly Hasan said, "Police found a cigarette lighter at the scene, believed to have been the same one that caused the incident."
He also urged the organisers or the victims to file a report so the police could begin working towards catching the perpetrator.
Following the incident, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail visited the victims at the hospital
Wan Azizah told Bernama that some of the young victims were too traumatised to even speak.
The youngest victim is four years old.
The Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development also said that the Welfare Department was ready to provide counselling to the victims if needed.
Putrajaya Hospital Emergency and Trauma Department head Dr Khairul Nizam Hassan said none of the victims were in critical condition.
"The victims suffered first and second degree burns. The injury areas vary with burns in the eyebrow, hair, and hands. No one suffered total burns," he said.
