GEORGE TOWN: Two Penang Island City Council (MBPP) enforcement officers were injured after gas-filled balloons they had seized exploded during the Thaipusam celebrations here.
The incident occurred at about 10.45pm on Sunday (Feb 1), as stalls were winding down operations.
The officers had earlier confiscated the balloons from a trader along Jalan Kebun Bunga who had ignored council orders to stop selling them without a valid trading permit.
In a statement, Penang Island City Council said its Licensing Department had been monitoring unlicensed hawkers along Jalan Macalister, Jalan Utama and Jalan Gottlieb since Saturday, and found traders selling light gas-filled balloons without licences.
“Verbal instructions were issued for the hawkers to stop operations and leave the area, but some ignored the orders,” MBPP said.
The seized balloons and related equipment were brought to the council’s Licensing Department office in Lebuh Union for disposal. While releasing the gas from the balloons in the absence of members of the public, an explosion and fire occurred, injuring the officers.
“The rear section of an MBPP vehicle was also damaged by fire, along with the seized equipment,” the statement said.
One officer is receiving treatment at Penang Hospital for burns to both hands and one side of the face, while the other sustained minor injuries and is recuperating at home.
MBPP said reports had been lodged with the Fire and Rescue Department and the police, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
The balloons are believed to have been filled with hydrogen, a cheaper but highly flammable gas. Helium, by contrast, is non-flammable and safer for public use.
