Brazilian dies when balloon crashes in Turkey

A Brazilian tourist died Monday and 24 other people were hurt when a hot-air balloon crashed in a beauty spot in central Turkey, officials said.

The accident occurred over Cappadocia's sculpted rock formations when the balloon collided with the basket of another balloon above and crashed to the ground, the area's governor Abdurrahman Savas told Anatolia news agency.

"The lower balloon was torn and fell quickly," he said, citing witness accounts.

"One person died unfortunately in the accident and 24 other people are lightly injured," added Hassan Unver, mayor of Nevsehir, who spoke to NTV television.

Savas said the person who died was a Brazilian man, while most of those hurt suffered bone fractures, including one person who was in serious condition.

Ballooning has become increasingly popular in recent years in Turkey, particularly in the Cappadocia region.

The accident in Cappadocia occurred around three months after a balloon exploded in Luxor, Egypt, killing 19 people on February 26.