A beach party in Bali turned into a fiery ordeal when a balloon exploded in a celebrated restaurant, causing a blaze.
Video footage shows flames engulfing Chez Gado-Gado in Seminyak during the incident on Sunday. An Australian teenager suffered burns and was hospitalized.
A witness, Tara Borelli from Sydney, shared, “There was a 70th birthday celebration with two balloons. A waitress lit the candle on the cake too close, causing the balloon to explode.” Borelli felt the heat and quickly fled toward the beach for safety.
The restaurant’s straw roof caught fire, and the flames spread swiftly throughout the establishment, Borelli described.
Witness Paul Cole told reporters, “The entire place lit up like a firecracker. People were frantic, screaming, and rushing for safety.”
The Badung Fire and Rescue team battled the fire for over two hours, successfully extinguishing it with no loss of life, per The Bali Sun.
First Inspector I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya of Denpasar Police indicated the fire likely started from a balloon ignited by a candle, causing an explosion.
Efforts by restaurant staff using fire extinguishers were ineffective due to the rapid spread of the fire to the thatched roof.
A witness recounted numerous loud explosions and described the scene as “terrible.”
Joe Xuereb, another witness, said confusion reigned immediately after the fire ignited.
Chez Gado-Gado restaurant has announced a temporary closure on its website following the incident.
Reporter Greg Norman covers the story for Fox News Digital.
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