144 Armenians injured as balloons explode
Source: AP
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) Clusters of balloons exploded Friday during a political rally in the central square of Armenia's capital, injuring at least 144 people, authorities said.
The Emergencies Ministry said 104 of them had to be hospitalized with burns after the explosion in Yerevan, which it said was caused by a smoker who lit a cigarette near the balloons.
Health Minister Artyom Pushkian said no one had life-threatening injuries.
The balloons were supposed to be flown at a Republican Party rally that drew tens of thousands ahead of Sunday's parliamentary vote in the former Soviet republic. Despite the accident, Armenian President Serge Sarkisian addressed the rally with a speech.
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yellowcanine
(35,703 posts)Does the name "Hindenburg" not mean anything to Armenians?
Webster Green
(13,905 posts)That must have been horrible. Melting plastic falling down on people.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,405 posts)which I can't believe - however inflammable the skins of the balloons were, they couldn't produce a fireball like that.
eg
http://rt.com/news/balloons-explode-yerevan-rally-616/
http://en.ria.ru/world/20120504/173229684.html
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/106082/139_burn_victims_reported_in_Yerevan_blast
yellowcanine
(35,703 posts)I am guessing a gas cylinder may have been mislabeled. Or someone did it deliberately for some perverted reason.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)cprise
(8,445 posts)I'm guessing they tried to save some money.
DisgustipatedinCA
(12,530 posts)And I'm glad to read that no one had life-threatening injuries.
CBGLuthier
(12,723 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)they'd have to admit to some serious stupidity/carelessness if this just "happened" on its own