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Exploding hot air balloon injures revellers at festival


At least nine people have been injured after a hot air balloon exploded above thousands of revellers at a festival in Myanmar.

The balloon was engulfed by fireworks during the annual Tazaungdaing Festival in Taunggyi on Wednesday, a beautiful but dangerous event where the homemade explosives are woven into the balloon’s frame.

The display is meant to shower down cascades of sparks onto adoring crowds, but balloons regularly crash to the ground.

Incredible videos shared online show one balloon bursting into a ball of sparks and fire.

A hot air balloon has exploded after it was hit by fireworks during the annual Tazaungdaing Festival in Taunggyi, Myanmar. Source: Storyful
A hot air balloon has exploded after it was hit by fireworks during the annual Tazaungdaing Festival in Taunggyi, Myanmar. Source: Storyful

Festival-goers cry for help and run for safety as it explodes, sending fireworks and flames shooting towards the ground.

The balloon was carrying more than 18kg of explosives and fell about 90 metres.

It’s not clear how many people were inside the balloon but at least nine festival attendees were injured in the incident.

It’s also not the first time the festival has courted controversy.

In 2014, three people were killed at the festival when a balloon crashed into the crowds below. A young child also died after a balloon was blown into the family’s tent.

The annual November celebration marks the end of Myanmar’s rainy season.