Thirty-nine hurt in birthday party blast

Thirty-nine guests at a birthday party were injured when a fuel can accidentally exploded, German officials said today.

The host, a 30-year-old firefighter, suffered life-threatening burns.

The man was celebrating with around 60 friends in a garage in the Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach late on Saturday.

The blast occurred as he tried to move the can away from a pipe carrying hot air into the building from a heater outside.

The explosion sent a fireball through the garage and set several guests’ clothes alight, said local fire chief Siegbert Sendner.

Several off-duty firefighters among the guests helped to evacuate the wounded and provide first aid.

As well as the host, three other people were seriously hurt and taken to nearby hospitals.