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Deutsche Welle , Germany
May 4 2012
Exploding balloons injure scores at Armenian rally
There was a scary moment for people attending a concert at a political
rally in Armenia when several bunches of balloons exploded, sending
several dozen people to the hospital.
Over 140 people were injured on Friday when a large number of party
balloons simultaneously exploded at a political campaign concert in
the Armenian capital, Yerevan.
Not all the balloons ignited in the blast
The concert was put on by President Serzh Sarkisian's governing
Republican party and comes ahead of parliamentary elections on Sunday.
According to the emergencies ministry, 144 people suffered burns when
small bunches of the balloons were ignited, sending a fireball into
the air and concert-goers running in panic. Just over 100 went to the
hospital, but no one suffered serious injuries.
The balloons, which were filled with gas, may have been ignited by a cigarette.
Sunday's poll is widely seen as a test of Armenia's democracy.
mz/msh (Reuters, AFP, AP)
May 4 2012
Exploding balloons injure scores at Armenian rally
There was a scary moment for people attending a concert at a political
rally in Armenia when several bunches of balloons exploded, sending
several dozen people to the hospital.
Over 140 people were injured on Friday when a large number of party
balloons simultaneously exploded at a political campaign concert in
the Armenian capital, Yerevan.
Not all the balloons ignited in the blast
The concert was put on by President Serzh Sarkisian's governing
Republican party and comes ahead of parliamentary elections on Sunday.
According to the emergencies ministry, 144 people suffered burns when
small bunches of the balloons were ignited, sending a fireball into
the air and concert-goers running in panic. Just over 100 went to the
hospital, but no one suffered serious injuries.
The balloons, which were filled with gas, may have been ignited by a cigarette.
Sunday's poll is widely seen as a test of Armenia's democracy.
mz/msh (Reuters, AFP, AP)