Dicing with danger at balloon fest

Explosive entertainment: Brightly coloured balloons with hundreds of homemade fireworks woven into their frames (pic, below) are sent soaring into the night sky, showering down cascades of sparks onto adoring crowds at the festival in Taunggyi. — AFP

Taunggyi (Myanmar): The gigantic hot air balloon folded into itself and fell in a ball of flames, scattering onlookers below at the beginning of Myanmar’s stunning yet treacherous fire balloon festival.

Nobody was hurt this time but every year several are injured at the event here in the Shan state capital, a highlight of the annual Tazaungdaing festival of light that marks the end of the rainy season.