Blast in Yerevan injures 144 - PHOTOS

A total of 144 people were injured when helium-filled balloons exploded at a party rally in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Friday, the Armenian Emergencies Ministry reported, APA reports quoting Ria Novosti.

“No one was killed by the blast in downtown Yerevan,” Nikolai Grigoryan, a deputy head of the ministry’s rescue service, said. Health Minister Arutyun Kushkyan said there were no severe injuries. Those injured mainly received burns.

The incident occurred during an electoral rally of the Republican Party of Armenia, Armenian media reported. A Health Ministry spokeswoman said some people were injured in the panic and stampede that followed the blast rather than in the explosions themselves.