BLITAR – A firecracker explosion during an illegal hot air balloon launch killed one young man and injured two teenagers in Blitar Regency on Wednesday morning during Eid al-Adha celebrations.
The incident happened in Tambakan Village, Gandusari District. A group of teenagers and young adults gathered in a rice field to launch an unmanned hot air balloon. They attached strings of firecrackers to the balloon before launch.
Police said the group planned the launch at dawn while residents prepared for Eid al-Adha prayers. Instead of going to the prayer site, the victims and several other youths walked to a farming area about 500 meters from nearby houses.
Authorities identified the victims as I, 23, ADR, 11, and D, 12. Doctors treated all three victims at Ngudi Waluyo Regional Hospital in Wlingi.
The explosion killed I after he suffered severe injuries. Meanwhile, ADR and D suffered injuries to their arms and faces. Both teenagers remain under medical treatment.
Blitar Police spokesperson Aiptu Syaiful Muheni said the accident likely happened around 6:30 a.m. local time. Witnesses told police that the group used many large firecrackers during the balloon launch.
According to investigators, several firecrackers failed to explode after the balloon started rising. The three victims then approached the explosives to check the problem.
Seconds later, one of the firecrackers suddenly exploded near them. The blast shocked nearby residents and created panic in the surrounding area.
“Residents immediately reported the incident to Gandusari Police Sector. Officers then processed the scene and evacuated the victims to the hospital,” Muheni said.
Several villagers said the explosion sounded loud enough to reach nearby villages. Investigators later found burned grass and blackened ground at the site. The damaged area measured about 1.5 meters wide.
Police continue to investigate the source of the firecrackers and the role of the people involved. Authorities had already warned residents against using firecrackers and launching unmanned hot air balloons.
Officials said the activity creates serious safety risks. The combination of explosives and balloon launches can trigger fires, injuries, and deadly accidents.
Police in Blitar have repeatedly campaigned against the tradition during holiday celebrations in East Java. The latest incident has renewed concerns about unsafe balloon launches during major religious events.