Chinese lantern craze causing damage to property

[Christina]

I've been contacted by my property manager this morning to advise that last evening guests in my apartment came home to find that some idiot had launched a large blue Chinese lantern which had landed on my furnished outdoor bedroom terrace. Luckily it didn't set fire to any of the soft furnishings but is has badly stained the stone tiles on the terrace, which guests frantically tried unsuccessfully to remove. We are having to send our cleaning team in tomorrow with porcoz and bleach to try to shift it.

The consequences however could have been much more serious, as most of the terraces in my block of five apartments and the neighbouring block of five (all currently fully occupied) have soft furnishings - rattan furniture, cushions, bean bags - which are flammable. Plus outside the restaurant next door, they store gas cylinders (not sure if they are full or empty) just metres away from our apartment blocks which are in a densely populated part of central Kalkan. As if we haven't already seen enough fire tragedies in Kalkan to last us all a lifetime.

I do hope this is not the latest new craze in Kalkan. I'm not sure what, if anything, can be done about it, but just wanted to make other owners and guests aware of this new potential fire hazard.

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=12852.0

[DRBD]

These lanterns seemed to have been  very popular a few years ago, then there a lot of bad publicity in the UK re the damage etc & they weren't seen quite so much. Saying that we did see one in flight 2 weeks ago coming from the Kalamar area. Have also seen one come down on the mountain side & actually ignite some bushes which fortunately then burnt out quickly.

Although they can look stunning in the air, they are very dangerous when decending. 

[tortoise lady]

I agree that the Chinese lanterns look stunning - we also saw on in Kalkan about two weeks ago.   But so dangerous - to the countryside, especially in the hot dry weather, and also to property.   If I see any petition to ban them I would certainly sign it.