NEVSEHIR
A hot air balloon crashed early morning after colliding in mid-air with another balloon in Turkey's popular tourist destination of Cappadocia, killing three Brazilian nationals and injuring 22, authorities said.
Brazilian tourists killed in hot air balloon crash are Ellem Kohelman (76), Maria Luiza Gomes (71) and Mariua Rosas (65).
Among 22 injured people, 19 of them were taken to hospitals in Nevsehir and 3 others were taken to university hospital in neighboring province of Kayseri.
The accident happened at about 6.00 a.m. (Turkish local time) when the balloon's envelope ripped open after colliding with the basket of another balloon in mid-air.
Abdurrahman Savas, Governor of the central Nevsehir province, said the injured tourists were from Brazil, Argentina and Spain.
Cappadocia, which is famous for its "fairy chimney" volcanic cones, has become a popular tourist attraction for hot-air balloon tours over past decade.
