THIS is the dramatic moment dozens of red balloons filled with natural gas engulfed the air with a huge fireball explosion, sending panicked tourists fleeing.
CCTV footage shows the balloons floating above an upstairs outdoor café in the historic city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan, before the electrified cables turned what are harmless pieces of decoration into a blinding inferno.
CCTV footage captured the moment a bunch of balloons full of methane exploded in Uzbekistan Credit: East2West
Terrified tourists witnessed the blast from a nearby cafe Credit: East2West
Confused and startled diners seated on the terrace can be seen fleeing for safety in the historical crown jewel of the ancient Silk Road.
The incident lasted a few seconds and nobody was hurt.
The Bukhara Region Department of Internal Affairs has found in their that the balloons were sold by the young vendor who illegally filled the balloons with methane at a friend’s house rather than helium or air.
have said that the explosion was caused when the balloons got tangled in the power lines.
A 19-year-old vendor was detained over the explosion Credit: East2West
The incident happened in the ancient trade city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan Credit: East2West
The balloon seller and the homeowner who illegally piped the natural gas have been hit with administrative proceedings. Authorities have yet to say what penalties the pair will face.
Officials have warned the public to avoid using natural gas to inflate balloons, and to only buy balloons from reputable sellers.
Helium is widely used for balloons because it is inert meaning it will not blow up in flames if it hovers near a candle or other heat sources.
Earlier this year, horror footage showed hydrogen-filled inflatables exploding and burning a girl’s face.
Friends had surprised Nozza Usmanova with cake and candles at an entrance to a shop.
But the hot candles made contact with the balloons.
The blaze engulfed the doorway, the birthday girl and the guests rushed out into the street for safety.
The fire lasted a few seconds and nobody was hurt.
Hydrogen, much like methane, can be highly flammable when it comes into contact with sparks, flames, or candles.
It comes a few months after , engulfing three people in a giant fireball.
Shocking CCTV footage from inside the lift captured the unexpected blast in Mumbai, India.
A woman with a suitcase casually steps into the lift in a residential building followed by a delivery worker carrying a dozen golden balloons.
He was reportedly delivering them for a birthday party in Anmol Tower in the Goregaon West neighbourhood.
Another man with a backpack enters behind the delivery man.
Within seconds, the balloons, which were encased in a giant plastic bag to keep them from escaping, explode in a fiery ball.
The small cabin is momentarily filled with flames.
All three occupants dash out in panic as the lift doors close, transporting the burning remnants of the balloons inside to a higher floor.
Two were rushed to the hospital for treatment and are reported to be stable. The third individual escaped without serious injuries.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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