Turkey: Two tourists killed and three injured in hot air balloon accident
Two people died and three others were injured when a hot air balloon crash-landed in Turkey.
The Spanish victims were killed after the accident in the central region of Cappadocia, where millions of tourists visit sites each year.
There were 28 tourists and two crew members on board when the balloon made a hard landing after touring volcanic rock formations.
None of the injured are said to be in mortal danger.
Balloons regularly fly low over scenic canyons and cone-shaped volcanic formations, and while accidents are rare, they are not unheard of.
The Nevsehir provincial governor’s office said the accident was caused by a “sudden increase in wind”.
“The hot air balloon came down abruptly at 8.50am (6.50am UK time) after unexpectedly getting very windy,” the governor’s office said.
Rescue services rushed to the scene but were unable to save the two Spaniards.
The balloon was launched from a monastery near the town of Avanos.
The Cappadocia region, 190 miles south of the capital Ankara, is famous for its rock formations called “fairy chimneys”, underground cities and churches carved into the mountainsides.
The Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into the accident.
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In 2013, three Brazilian tourists died and 22 others were injured when two hot air balloons collided.
Four years later, a Danish tourist died when a balloon crash-landed in strong winds.
Two months after this incident, a French diplomat was killed and several other people injured when their balloon hit a power line.
Globally, 28 people died in a hot air balloon in Egypt in July, while a plane dodged a balloon in Brazil in the same month.
Last year a balloon made an emergency landing in Australia and at least one person was injured in the UK when a balloon landed in a pub.
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https://metro.co.uk/2022/10/18/turkey-two-tourists-dead-and-three-injured-in-hot-air-balloon-accident-17586406/ Turkey: Two tourists killed and three injured in hot air balloon accident