Monday July 30, 2012

Firecrackers in container go off, injuring man and boy

ALOR SETAR: A plastic container with about 40 ball firecrackers exploded in Kampung Kuala Kangkong near here, knocking a boy unconscious and caused injuries to his forehead and body, and is likely to cause a man to lose sight in his left eye.

The incident happened at about 7pm on Saturday when the wick of a firecracker held by Mohd Sohibollah, 27, dropped into the container after his neighbour Tuah Mohd Hafiz Mohd Razli, nine, had lighted it.

Both of them have been admitted to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital.

In pain: Mohd Sohibollah and Tuah Mohd Hafiz (below left) recuperating at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital after the mishap. — Bernama

Hospital director Datuk Dr Juita Mohd Ghazali said Mohd Sohibollah underwent surgery of the eye while Tuah Mohd Hafiz had been allowed to return home.

Mohd Sohibollah, who works in a printing company, said Tuah Mohd Hafiz had wanted to play with firecrackers and he held one while the boy lighted the wick.

“The lighted wick fell into the plastic container containing about 40 ball firecrackers which exploded, causing us to be hit by the fragments,” he told reporters from his hospital bed.

Mohd Sohibollah said Tuah Mohd Hafiz was thrown off his feet in the explosion and lost consciousness while he himself was injured in the left eye, shoulder and hand.

He said he panicked upon seeing the boy unconscious and quickly sought help from fellow villagers who rushed them to the Simpang Empat health clinic.

They were then taken to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital.

Mohd Sohibollah said he had bought the ball firecrackers at a Ramadan bazaar in Tandop two days ago and had wanted to set them off on Saturday while waiting to break fast. — Bernama

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