New York Daily News
May 5 2012
144 Armenians injured when gas-filled balloons explode at campaign rally
Explosion occured after smoker lit a cigarette near the balloons
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
YEREVAN, Armenia – 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.
Reports say officials suspect the balloons were filled with hydrogen
instead of helium, as helium is not flammable. Police are
investigating the cause of the explosion.
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.
The Republican Party dominates the parliament of this impoverished
Caucasus nation that borders Turkey.
From: A. Papazian
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Andres-Papazian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2012/05/06/144-armenians-injured-when-gas-filled-balloons-explode-at-campaign-r/