Trenggalek Police Seize Hundreds Of Air Balloons Ahead Of Ketupat Eid

Officers extinguished the source of the fire in a hot air balloon that fell on the highway near agropark, Trenggalek, Wednesday (17/4/2024) (ANTARA/HO - Trenggalek Police)

TRENGGALEK - Trenggalek Police together with the local TNI and Satpol PP ranks, held simultaneous raids and confiscated more than 100 hot air balloons ready to fly ahead of the peak of the Ketupat Eid celebration.

The joint operation secured no less than 135 hot air balloons from various locations in Trenggalek, East Java but could not fully prevent the flight of the smoke-fueled plastic balloon from flying in the Trenggalek sky.

"There were some who escaped, but most of them managed to prevent it," said Trenggalek Police Chief, AKBP Gathut Bowo Supriyono as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, April 17.

A hot air balloon that has escaped and has already been flown by residents has even fallen on the Trenggalek Ponorogo national road and almost hit a motorist.

The hot air balloon fell on the highway, near the Taman Agropark Trenggalek area with the fire still burning and almost hitting road users.

In addition, the hot air balloon was almost caught in the surrounding electrical installation.

Luckily, the officers were quick to minimize the impact. The fire can be extinguished by officers at the Ketupat Semeru Operations Service Post with a light fire extinguisher.

"Previously there were also large balloons that fell on top of people's houses, fortunately there was no fire. We urge the whole community not to raise hot air balloons," he said.

Even though there is a ban on strict sanctions, it seems that air balloon flights, especially during the momentum of the quapatan celebration, are still the attention of officers.

Lack of public awareness of the dangers posed to the homework of the relevant authorities. For this reason, Gathut said that his party would intensify socialization more.

The ban on wild air balloon flights, said Gathut, was not carried out without reason.

In addition to potentially causing fires to disruptions in electricity supply, the wild air balloon can also disrupt air traffic.

Especially now that Dhoho Kediri International Airport, which is not far from Trenggalek, is already operating.

"The presence of hot air balloons can endanger flight traffic, disruptions to electricity networks to fire hazards. For that we hope that the public can respond wisely," he said.