Parents Of Boy Who Threw Firecracker In Sewer Faces RM174,335 Claim
The boy's grandmother has since apologised.
By Sukhbir Cheema — 10 Feb 2025, 12:03 PM
A seemingly harmless prank by a young boy in China has spiralled into a costly disaster after he tossed firecrackers into a sewer
The prank triggered a methane explosion that sent vehicles airborne, leaving his family with a hefty financial burden.
The explosion, which took place in Zizhong county, Sichuan, on 30 January, damaged eight cars, including high-end brands such as Porsche, BMW, and Audi.
Insurance companies have estimated the total losses to be around 285,000 yuan (RM174,403), with the bulk of the financial responsibility falling on the boy’s family, according to South China Morning Post.
The blast's impact was so powerful that some vehicles were lifted off the ground, with one completely overturned
Miraculously, the boy was unharmed, but police located him an hour later and brought him and his parents in for questioning.
Authorities have not disclosed any penalties they may face.
China Pacific Insurance covered the losses for three owners of the affected vehicles — of a Lincoln, Lexus, and BMW — totalling 166,000 yuan (RM101,573).
Ping An Insurance, meanwhile, estimated the damage to the Porsches at 40,000 yuan (RM24,475), while a Li Auto vehicle sustained 15,000 yuan (RM9,178) in damage.
Legal experts suggest the family could seek to reduce their liability if they can prove negligence in the sewer's maintenance
Additionally, questions have been raised over whether the restaurant adjacent to the lawn — where the explosion occurred — had directed customers to park there, potentially shifting some responsibility onto the business.
The boy's grandmother has since posted an emotional apology video online, expressing deep regret for the incident.
"It was my fault. I did not do well," she said tearfully, pleading for compassion from the public.
