Witness saw fireworks went to spectators and exploded

KLANG: Fireworks display to celebrate the new year at Gegar Klang Fiesta at Padang Sukan Pandamaran here last night went wrong and halted for a while when it exploded and injured the spectators who gathered to watch the show.
This was told by a witness, Nadia Hassan, 38, who ran a store at the fiesta, located about 20m from the scene.
According to her, the first display of the fireworks went smoothly without any problem, however, the second and third attempts went wrong when the firework, instead of firing into the sky, it headed for the spectators and exploded.
"When it happened it sent terrified spectators fleeing the scene seeking shelter, many of my displayed goods were scattered on the ground after being hit by them," she told Bernama here today.
The fireworks display was a part of the three-day celebration organised by the Klang Municipal Council which started on Dec 30.
In addition to fireworks, other programmes organised were booths selling different types of goods; food trucks; clown shows; motorcycle show; aerobics and leisure cycling.
In the incident, 14 people — 10 adults and four children — were injured when they were hit by fragments of the firework when it exploded on the ground.
Another witness, Radin Mohd Fasbillah, 18, who was working at the same booth during the incident, said the spectators thronged around the area where the fireworks were launched.
"In front of our booth it was full of visitors. Hence, when the fireworks exploded, many ran for shelter and some fell on the ground," he said.
Meanwhile, a Bernama check at the scene saw that the fiesta was still open as scheduled and traders were seen to operate their booths as usual.
Also seen were participants in leisure cycling and other programmes proceeded as scheduled.
Earlier, Bernama's efforts to interview the victims treated at the Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah were unsuccessful after being informed that all the victims had already been discharged after receiving outpatient treatment. — Bernama