Warning on dangers of sky lanterns

THE COMPETITION and Consumer Protection Service issued a warning yesterday against the risks of using sky lanterns, also known as Chinese lanterns.

According to the service, although manufacturers claim that the product is safe, they say they have heard of fires as well as animal and human deaths from use of the lanterns. They can also cause problems on highways as no one knows when and where they may land, the service said.

The lanterns, mainly imported from China, are made of a special kind of paper and contain a wick inside. When they are let fly they become uncontrollable and can  reach heights of about 1000m in ten minutes.

There is no safe way to use them, officials said.

The service has also launched a campaign to locate the lanterns and remove them from the market, at the same time advising companies not to import them.

The campaign will be centred on controlling the sale of the product, providing advice to consumers via leaflets and cooperation with Customs to prevent the products from being imported onto the island.

For more information consumers should contact the Consumer’s Line on 1429, the head office on 22 867169 or the district offices in Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos on 25 819150, 24 816160 and 26 804610 respectively.

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