Regent Satria Had Released Gas Balloons Before Explosion That Injured 11

Klungkung Regent I Made Satria confirmed he had released dozens of gas balloons that later exploded and injured 11 people during the 79th National Cooperative Day commemoration in Klungkung, Bali, on Sunday (19/7/2026). He made the statement whilst visiting victims in the emergency department of Klungkung Regional General Hospital.

“I was the one who released the balloons. I was attending the 79th Cooperative Day commemoration. There was a balloon release event, but they wouldn’t fly and drifted south instead. After they descended, I went straight to Nusa Penida,” Satria said in an interview at Klungkung Hospital on Sunday afternoon.

“When I arrived in Nusa Penida, I received information that the balloons had exploded. I was shocked. How could the balloons explode? It turned out they were ignited by someone who did not understand the danger,” he continued.

Following the incident, Satria urged residents to be more careful when using flammable nitrogen gas. He even suggested that people use pure helium, which is much safer. “From this incident, I hope the public will be more vigilant and can distinguish between filling balloons with nitrogen gas and pure air. Pure air is safe and will not explode, but this gas is highly susceptible to fire,” he explained.

The Klungkung Regent also guaranteed medical treatment for all victims of the explosion. At around 5.30 p.m. local time, Satria and Vice Regent Tjokorda Gde Surya Putra visited the victims at Klungkung Hospital. The Regent was known to have participated in releasing the balloons during the National Cooperative Day event.

During the visit, Satria met several victims who were still receiving intensive care, whilst others with minor injuries had been allowed to return home. Among those still being treated were a father and child from Besan Village, Dawan District, who had attended the Cooperative Day commemoration.

One victim, Ketut Upadana, 42, from Besan Village, Dawan District, explained that he and his child were near the dozens of gas balloons that failed to fly. “Because they couldn’t fly, after the event many children wanted to take the balloons. To prevent them from fighting over them and fearing the balloons might explode, we opened them one by one. When one was being untied, someone cut the string using a lighter. We said, ‘Don’t use a lighter, it might explode.’ Before we even finished speaking, the balloon exploded,” he recounted. He sustained serious burns across his body, particularly on his hands, and was scheduled to undergo skin graft surgery.

A total of 11 people, mostly children, suffered burns after the gas balloons carrying the Cooperative Day banner exploded at the Ida I Dewa Agung Istri Kanya Cultural Centre in Klungkung, Bali. The explosion occurred after a resident burned the balloon string with a lighter when the balloons failed to take off. “The incident happened at around 11.00 a.m. local time. It is known that the 11 victims were mostly children. The police have launched an investigation into the explosion case,” said Klungkung Police Public Relations Head, First Inspector Dewa Nyoman Alit Purnawibawa.

Alit explained that the incident began when the committee attempted to launch gas balloons carrying a banner for the Cooperative Day commemoration. However, the balloons failed to ascend because the banner was too heavy. The grounded balloons were then about to be distributed to children at the location. As someone was untying the strings, a resident burned the cord with a lighter. The flame ignited the gas inside the cluster of balloons, triggering an explosion. Residents and children near the balloons were immediately hit by the burst of fire. All 11 victims were evacuated to Klungkung Regional Hospital for medical treatment.