19 dead as traveler balloon explodes at Luxor

A hot air balloon exploded as it was going over Egypt’s city of Luxor on Tuesday, killing 19 folks including visitors from Hong Kong, Japan, France and Britain, a security official stated.

“Nineteen people died,” the official told AFP.

The balloon which was carrying 21 folks was going at 300 metres (yards) over Qurna, in Luxor’s West Bank, when it caught fire before bursting, the official said. The 2 survivors, including the balloon’s pilot, have been taken to hospital, he stated.