A popular Bali restaurant was destroyed by a massive fire ignited by a helium balloon on Sunday evening. The blaze occurred at Chez Gado Gado, a beachside venue in the resort town of Seminyak, which was filled with tourists and locals celebrating multiple birthday parties.
The incident began when a waitress attempted to light a candle on a birthday cake. Her proximity to a nearby helium balloon, described as silver and shaped like a 'seven and zero' for a 70th birthday celebration, caused the balloon to pop and then explode.
Witnesses reported that the resulting fireball shot up to the restaurant's thatched roof, which immediately caught fire. Guests, including families with children, fled the venue and ran towards the beach.
"A waitress went to light the candle on the birthday cake, but it was a bit too close to the balloon," Tara Borelli, a diner at the restaurant, told news.com.au. "It popped then exploded. We felt the heat from the pop."
Within minutes, the entire venue was engulfed in flames. Patrons described the rapid spread of the fire through the thatched roof.
Guests and staff worked to assist others, with one account mentioning an older cousin helping a man in a wheelchair while restaurant staff attempted to combat the flames. Fire crews arrived and eventually brought the fire under control.
No serious injuries were reported from the incident. One woman from Perth described being "still shaking" due to the speed at which the fire consumed the building.
Chez Gado Gado, located overlooking the Indian Ocean, had been in operation for over three decades. The restaurant remained closed on Monday following the extensive damage.