A night at a local expo turned tragic after a helium gas tank exploded near SP Plaza in Sungai Petani on Thursday evening, killing one man and injuring three others.
The victim, identified as 42-year-old Azmi Ahmad, was pronounced dead at the scene following the powerful explosion. Three other male victims, aged 15, 36 and 49, suffered injuries in the incident.
The helium tank was believed to have been used to fill children’s balloons for business purposes at the expo site when the explosion suddenly occurred.
In a statement, the Kedah Fire and Rescue Department said it received an emergency call through the MERS 999 system at approximately 7.52pm before firefighters from the Sungai Petani Fire and Rescue Station were dispatched to the location.
Rescue personnel reportedly arrived at the scene around 8.05pm and confirmed that the explosion involved a helium gas cylinder.
“The incident involved one helium gas tank used for filling children’s balloons, causing four individuals to become victims of the explosion,” the statement said.
“One adult male was confirmed dead at the scene by the Ministry of Health, while three others suffered minor injuries.”
The injured victims were handed over to Health Ministry personnel for further treatment, while the deceased victim’s body was later handed over to police for additional action.
Authorities also confirmed that the operation involved assistance from the Royal Malaysia Police and the Ministry of Health.
The exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but the shocking incident has already raised safety concerns among members of the public regarding the handling of gas tanks at crowded public events and business expos.
