Explosion of hydrogen-filled balloons

An explosion involving several entertainment balloons filled with hydrogen. The balloons were used as props at a public sport event for children. The explosion caused light injuries to 16 persons.

INITIATING cause was a traffic accident. In absence of information on drivers and driver behaviours, the ROOT CAUSE can be attributed generically to a human error (wrong manoeuvre). However, a shortcoming in design cannot be excluded (nor confirmed), due to structural weaknesses of the rack.

The 16 victims suffered first and second-degree burns. The injury areas varied, with burns in the eyebrows, hair and hands. Out of the 16, among which young children, only 4 adults remained hospitalised for several days.

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Hydrogen is much cheaper than helium, therefore, in absence of a regulation, operators prefer to use hydrogen. Several countries have already in place since long a prohibition on hydrogen-filled entertainment balloons. On the wake of this incident, experts called the Malaysian government to ban this type of balloons. Enforcing measures are required as well, including clear guidelines for event organisers.