Hot-air balloon accident kills one, injures 10

A Briton was killed and 10 others were injured yesterday when a hot-air balloon crashed during a sight-seeing ride in central Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reported.

The balloon, rented from Explore Worldwide, went down for a yet unknown reason from a height of 200 metres shortly after it took off from near Zelve village, in Nevsehir province, for a tour of the Cappadocia region, the report said.

A 61-year-old man died while nine other British tourists were hospitalised with fractures in their legs or feet, it added. The balloon's operator was also injured.

An investigation was underway to determine the cause of the crash.

Several companies offer hot-air balloon rides over Cappadocia, which is a major tourist attraction with its cone-shaped rock formations, rock-carved underground cities and early Christian churches.