GEORGE TOWN: Two Penang Island City Council (MBPP) enforcement officers were injured after light gas-filled balloons seized during the Thaipusam celebrations exploded and caught fire.
The duo and several others were unloading the seized items from a pick-up truck when the explosion occurred at 7.55pm on Sunday outside the council’s Licensing Department office in Lebuh Union.
It is believed the balloons were filled with hydrogen – a cheaper but highly flammable gas, unlike helium, which is non-flammable and safer for public use.
Rapid damage: (From left) The pick-up truck on fire during the incident, and the truck’s condition in the blast’s aftermath (below).
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.
The fire also damaged the rear of the pick-up truck and several pieces of seized equipment.
In a statement, MBPP said the team had earlier found unlicensed balloon sales filled with light gas along Jalan Macalister, Jalan Utama and Jalan Gottlieb during the Thaipusam celebrations.
“Following this, the council issued verbal instructions to the vendors involved to cease sales activities and leave the area.
“However, we found that a few vendors were disregarding these instructions,” the statement read.
MBPP then took the seized items to its Licensing Department in Lebuh Union for disposal by releasing the gas.
It was then that one of the balloons exploded and caught fire.
MBPP had since lodged reports with the police and Fire and Rescue Department.
“Further investigations are ongoing to identify the cause of the incident. The council is also reviewing improvement measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.”
