A helium gas cylinder explosion at an expo in Sungai Petani kills a trader and injures three others, catching visitors off guard.
SUNGAI PETANI: Traders at Dataran Jam Besar expo site here did not expect their routine business day to turn into a tragedy that claimed the life of a fellow trader.
One of the traders injured in the helium cylinder explosion, Khairul Shakirin Saad, 36, said he sustained injuries after being hit by fragments from the gas cylinder.
He said he was about 100 metres away from the cylinder when he heard a loud explosion.
“I was discussing something with the expo organiser when suddenly there was a loud blast.
“The expo area went dark briefly as the lights went out. I felt pain around my waist and fell to the ground,” he said here today.
However, he said his injuries were not serious and he managed to stand before being informed that another trader had collapsed and died.
Another victim, who was a visitor, Norseri Ahmad Kasa, 49, from Penang, said he was at the expo with his wife and child when the incident occurred.
“I heard a loud explosion and felt pain in my abdomen. When I checked, I saw signs of injuries,” he said, adding that he sustained minor injuries in the incident.
The expo, which was scheduled to run from May 20 to 26, has been temporarily halted to facilitate police investigations.
Yesterday, it was reported that a beverage trader, Azmi Ahmad, 42, died after sustaining severe injuries to his right arm and right side of his chest, believed to have been caused by fragments from the helium gas cylinder.
The incident also left three others aged 15, 36 and 49 with minor injuries.
It is understood that the helium gas cylinder was used to fill balloons sold to children at the expo.
