7 Hurt , tourist die in Balloon Crash in Egypt

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A hot air balloon with foreign tourists sightseeing over the southern city of Luxor crash landed Friday, killing a tourist from South Africa and injuring seven others, Egyptian officials said.

No details were immediately available on the nationalities of the other victims. The remaining 12 tourists were unhurt.

The officials said the incident was caused by strong winds that forced the balloon, which was carrying 20 tourists, off its course above the ancient city, home to some of Egypt’s most remarkable pharaonic temples and tombs.

The balloon took off shortly before sunrise and flew about 45 minutes at an altitude of 450 meters (1,476 feet) before the pilot lost control because of strong wind that forced a crash landing in a mountainous area, the officials said.

Other balloons had taken off around the same time but landed safely, the officials added, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Egypt’s meteorological service had warned of strong winds across the country mainly in the Nile River delta and northern Egypt.