A healthy walking event held in Indonesia on Sunday (February 26) turned into a terrifying sight after gas balloons exploded after hitting nearby power lines.


Footage filmed at Teluk Nibung port, Tanjungbalai, North Sumatra Province shows the Mayor of Tanjungbalai, Waris Thalib along with a number of other officials releasing balloons at the opening of the Healthy Walk event for the Anniversary of the Ministry of State-owned enterprises (BUMN).

At the third count, the host commanded to release those balloons into the air.

Seconds later, fiery chaos as the balloons hit power lines and exploded.

Fortunately, no bad injuries or power outages were caused.

"There was no blackout—only a temporary flash. But if the transformer exploded it would have been extinguished," Head of PLN Tanjung Balai Customer Service Unit Fatar Siregar told local media

Gas balloons exploded as they hit power lines after being flown at an event in Indonesia.

Footage filmed at Teluk Nibung port, Tanjungbalai, North Sumatra Province, Sunday (February 26), the Mayor of Tanjungbalai, Waris Thalib along with a number of other officials released balloons at the opening of the Healthy Walk event for the Anniversary of the Ministry of State-owned enterprises (BUMN).

At the third count signal, the host gave the command to release those balloons into the air.

Seconds after that, the balloons hit power lines and exploded.

There was no fatal impact due to the incident even though the balloon explosion had caused sparks. Some other gas balloons fly into the air.

Head of PLN Tanjung Balai Customer Service Unit (ULP), Fatar Siregar told the media that he confirmed the explosion. He said the explosion occurred because the balloon contained flammable gas.

"That's right, it happened at the BUMN Ministry's anniversary event at Pelindo Teluk Nibung port. The gas balloon hit PLN's Medium Voltage Airline Cable at Teluk Nibung port where the event was held. It was a medium voltage airway cable. If the gas balloon hits the cable, it will explode," Siregar said.

The committee did not estimate the direction of the wind that came when releasing the gas balloon so that it hit the cable when the balloon was flying.

"Actually, judging from the video, the distance between the release point and the cable is quite safe. Because there is a distance of 20 to 25 meters from the cable. However, the wind came from the sea and changed the direction of the balloon, so it grabbed the cable at the location," Siregar added.

"There was no blackout. Only a temporary flash. But if the transformer exploded it would have been extinguished," he said.