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International Business Times
May 5 2012
Gas-Filled Balloon Explosion Injures 144 Armenians [PHOTOS]
By AMANDA REMLING
An estimated 144 people were injured when a cluster of balloons
exploded at a political rally in the Armenian capital on Friday.
According to the Associated Press, the explosion was caused by a
cigarette that was lit near the balloons.
The balloons, which are suspected of being filled with hydrogen
instead of helium, were going to be flown at a Republican Party rally,
an event expected to draw tens of thousands of people. When a smoker
lit a cigarette too close to the balloons they went up in flames,
burning over one hundred people.
Fridays explosion in Yerevan comes two days before the parliamentary vote.
"I heard an explosion and saw flames rising high," a woman named Susan
told the Daily Mail. "People rushed away from the square, and I saw a
man with a burnt face and a girl whose back was on fire."
According to Health Minister Artyom Pushkian, no one in the crowd was
afflicted life-threatening injuries.
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Armenian President Serge Sarksiaian gave a speech to the crowd despite
the explosion.
This isn't the first time that there has been panic at a political
event. The Daily Mail reports that Armenia's 2008 presidential
election saw violent acts occur between protesters and police.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/337641/20120505/armenian-gas-balloons-explosion-144-injured-rally.htm
May 5 2012
Gas-Filled Balloon Explosion Injures 144 Armenians [PHOTOS]
By AMANDA REMLING
An estimated 144 people were injured when a cluster of balloons
exploded at a political rally in the Armenian capital on Friday.
According to the Associated Press, the explosion was caused by a
cigarette that was lit near the balloons.
The balloons, which are suspected of being filled with hydrogen
instead of helium, were going to be flown at a Republican Party rally,
an event expected to draw tens of thousands of people. When a smoker
lit a cigarette too close to the balloons they went up in flames,
burning over one hundred people.
Fridays explosion in Yerevan comes two days before the parliamentary vote.
"I heard an explosion and saw flames rising high," a woman named Susan
told the Daily Mail. "People rushed away from the square, and I saw a
man with a burnt face and a girl whose back was on fire."
According to Health Minister Artyom Pushkian, no one in the crowd was
afflicted life-threatening injuries.
Like us on Facebook
Armenian President Serge Sarksiaian gave a speech to the crowd despite
the explosion.
This isn't the first time that there has been panic at a political
event. The Daily Mail reports that Armenia's 2008 presidential
election saw violent acts occur between protesters and police.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/337641/20120505/armenian-gas-balloons-explosion-144-injured-rally.htm