GEORGE TOWN, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- Two Penang Island City Council (MBPP) enforcement officers were injured after light gas-filled balloons confiscated during yesterday's Thaipusam celebrations exploded before causing a fire.
It said in a statement that the incident happened at about 7.55 pm in Lebuh Union, fronting the MBPP Licensing Department office.
In the incident, one of the officers was burned on both hands and one side of the face and is currently being treated at the Penang Hospital (HPP), while the other was slightly injured and is resting at home.
The statement said that before the incident, the MBPP Licensing Department team had been monitoring unlicensed hawkers along Jalan Macalister, Jalan Utama, and Jalan Gottlieb since Jan 31 and found unlicensed sales of balloons filled with light gas.
“Following this, the council authorities issued verbal instructions to the vendors involved to cease sales activities and leave the area. However, observations made on Jan 31 and Feb 1 found that a few vendors were disregarding these instructions," according to the statement released today.
After this, the MBPP said the balloons and related equipment on Jalan Gottlieb were confiscated by MBPP enforcement officers yesterday evening, before these items were taken to the MBPP Licensing Department in Lebuh Union for disposal.
MBPP said that while in front of the Licensing Department's office and without the presence of the public, enforcement officers punctured the balloons to release the gas inside.
However, the balloons exploded and caught fire, resulting in injuries to two enforcement officers, as well as causing the rear of an MBPP vehicle and the seized equipment to catch fire.
MBPP also said that a report regarding the incident was made yesterday to the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
“Further investigations are ongoing to identify the true cause of the incident. The council is also reviewing improvement measures to prevent such incidents from recurring," according to the statement.
Earlier footage of the incident went viral on social media, showing an MBPP four-wheel drive catching fire due to a ‘helium’ balloon explosion.
—BERNAMA
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