There is a reason why hotels and some residential buildings do not allow durian on the premises: the fruit is notorious for its strong smell. Durian lovers may not even notice the intensity of the scent, but for those who are not fans, it can easily cause nausea and dizziness.
If you are in a foreign country where durian is not commonly eaten, you may want to think twice before enjoying it at home, especially if you live in an apartment. One couple recently received an unexpected visit from the fire department after concerned neighbours made a call.
Earlier this week, a Malaysian couple posted a video on TikTok showing an incident that took place at their apartment building in Paris, France. In the video, the husband and wife can be seen enjoying a packet of durian they had bought in Chinatown. Everything seemed normal until, moments later, a team of firefighters came knocking on their door.
It turned out that a concerned neighbour had called the authorities after noticing a foul smell coming from the building, suspecting a gas leak. Realising it might have been caused by their durian, the couple pretended not to know anything. The firefighters continued searching for the source of the smell but found nothing, eventually leaving after determining that the area was safe.
“So sorry to our neighbours,” read the subtitles in the video. The post instantly went viral with netizens, mostly Malaysians, being amused by the situation. Many thought the incident was hilarious, comparing the French blue cheese to have a much worse smell. Others were curious if the couple had eventually admitted to causing the distress.
The couple explained that the firefighters arrived around 30 minutes after they had finished eating the king of fruits. They also admitted that they did not own up to being the cause, fearing it might get them evicted from the building. One netizen pointed out that the neighbour may have mistaken the smell of durian for LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), which is mixed with a chemical compound to give it an odour. In its original state, LPG is odourless and undetectable, and if left unchecked, it could cause an explosion.
The couple expressed their guilt for causing concern among the other residents but praised the French community for promptly contacting the authorities when they suspected something was wrong. The lesson here is to be a little more considerate of neighbours who may not be familiar with strong-smelling dishes, and to report any concerns as soon as possible to prevent potential danger.
Watch the viral clip below:
@faroy Kecoh satu bangunan bila org malaysia makan durian dlm rumah… satu pasukan bomba dtg nk cari mne dtg punca bau gas (durian) 😅 #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #durian #viral #malaysia
Source: TikTok
