Over 140 injured as balloons explode at political rally in Armenia (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Get short URL

Published time: May 04, 2012 19:17
Edited time: May 05, 2012 00:39

A view shows the explosion of gas-filled balloons during a campaign rally in the central Republic Square in Yerevan (Reuters / Handout)

Download video (4.68 MB)
Embed

Tags

Accident, CIS, Health, Politics

At least 144 have been injured as hundreds of balloons exploded at a political rally in Armenia’s capital Yerevan. The balloons were filled with helium, according to the country’s Emergency Ministry.

The balloons exploded near the stage, showering bystanders with molten rubber. Scores of people have been hospitalized with burns of varying degrees.

Preliminary information from the emergency services says that a cigarette could have caused the fire that led to the explosion. An investigation is under way.

The rally, which was being held ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, had attracted more than 15,000 participants.

State TV reports that the President Serzh Sargsyan addressed the crowds at the scene 30 minutes after the accident. The report also says that Sargsyan visited those injured in hospital.

Reuters / Handout

RIA Novosti / Panarmenian Photo

Reuters / Handout

RIA Novosti / Panarmenian Photo

Comments (14)

Fred Berfle (unregistered) 29.05.2012 01:44

Helium filled balloons are non-flammable. It looks like some cretin filled them with hydrogen, one can tell by the colour of the flame and the way the flame rises. Natural gas would smell and does not provide as much lift as hydrogen. A natural gas burn on the body would also look a lot worse. Who did it? Again, a cretin. Motive? Again, a cretin.

Undo

The Prophet 05.05.2012 12:16

Good tactic by police to disperse the opposition fill up the balloons with propane gas and sell it to them as genuine this way the protesters will run peacefully inside the police trucks for treatment, and also they will give up smoking more money into the health budget. Who said that the Armenians are dumb?

Undo

A.N. 05.05.2012 11:05

How unfortunate for so many. I can almost feel their pain and anger. No way it was Helium. So many will pay the consequences. What a bad day.

Undo

View all comments (14)