Beachside Chaos Following Bali Restaurant Fire
A beachside gathering in Bali, Indonesia, turned chaotic when a balloon reportedly exploded, causing a fire at a popular restaurant. Videos showed flames engulfing the Chez Gado-Gado restaurant in Seminyak during the incident. This happened on Sunday, leaving an Australian teenager in hospital with burns.
According to News.com.au, Tara Borelli, a Sydney witness, described the incident: “There was a 70th birthday celebration with two balloons on their table. A waitress tried to light the birthday cake candle too close to a balloon, which caused it to pop and explode. We felt the heat from the explosion.” Borelli further shared, “I grabbed my daughter and cousin and headed straight to the beach toward the water.” He detailed how the restaurant’s straw roof caught fire, with the entire establishment burning within minutes.
Witness Accounts
“The restaurant lit up like a firecracker,” said Paul Cole, a witness. “People were screaming and rushing around.”
The Badung Fire and Rescue Service spent over two hours battling the fire. According to The Bali Sun, authorities reported no casualties. Denpasar Police First Inspector I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya mentioned witness statements, indicating the fire likely started after a candle flame hit a balloon, causing it to explode.
Attempts by restaurant staff to control the fire with extinguishers failed due to the rapid spread to the thatched roof. A witness mentioned numerous explosions during the chaos, describing the scene as horrible.
“It was pure bedlam,” noted Joe Xuereb, a witness. “Once the fire began, people were unsure how to react.”
Following the incident, the restaurant announced a temporary closure on its website.
Greg Norman, a reporter at Fox News Digital, contributed to this article.