Amazing video captures the moment a pair of backpackers barely escape with their lives after a lithium battery explodes inside an Australian hostel.
French travelers are seen outside their room at the Mad Monkey hostel in Sydney on Wednesday when they suddenly run to safety, with the flames literally licking at their heels, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said.
The explosion forced 70 people onto the streets in the Potts Point neighborhood, as nearly two dozen firefighters battled the raging blaze, the outlet reported.
“I literally took the essentials: passport, phone and I had my laptop in my hand and went downstairs,” said Scottish hostel guest Mark Petrie.
“At first you don’t react, which is bad,” he said. “But then you start smelling smoke and you’re like, ‘Okay, this is our time and we should go now!’
Surveillance video captured a French backpacker speaking calmly with his companion outside his room at the Mad Monkey hostel in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday. Inside the room, authorities said he was charging a lithium battery. ABC News AUSD Suddenly, a fireball erupts from inside the room, causing the traveler to have to fight for his life in the hostel hallway. Fire and Rescue New South Wales said the fire was caused by a lithium battery that was charged inside the room. ABC News AU Moments later a second French backpacker is seen fleeing the room, apparently emerging from within the ball of flames. One of the travelers tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher before firefighters arrived, but could not. ABC News ES
Authorities said one of the French backpackers suffered minor burns to his leg, but no one was seriously injured.
“We had everyone evacuated from that property very quickly, which helped firefighters get in and control the fire very quickly,” NSW Fire and Rescue service manager Grant Rice told the outlet.
“With backpackers in that area, they don’t always speak English,” he said. “So management really helped Fire and Rescue keep those people away and they will be out for some time.”
Authorities said one of the French travelers, who was not identified, tried to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher, but was unable to control the fire before firefighters appeared.
NSW Fire and Rescue officials said 20 firefighters battled the fire at the Mad Monkey hostel in Sydney on Wednesday. They said the lithium battery fire was one of 149 battery-related fires so far this year. ABC News ES
FRNSW said a lithium battery being charged inside the room is believed to be responsible for the fire, one of 149 battery-related fires in New South Wales so far this year, and at least 22% of them involve batteries for electric bicycles and scooters.
The figure represents an increase of 16% compared to last year.
Lithium batteries have also been a major concern for the FDNY in the Big Apple, with potentially explosive devices being blamed for a number of high-profile (and deadly) fires in the city.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn