CAIRO: An Egyptian security official says a hot air balloon crash over the famed ancient temple city of Luxor has injured 16 tourists, mostly from Europe and North America. The balloon struck a cell phone transmission tower on Saturday near Gourna village on the west bank of the Nile. The injured tourists, who came from France, England, Denmark, US, Canada and South Korea, were taken to Luxor hospital for treatment, said the official. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. A French consular source said that a woman among the French casualties suffered a broken back. An official at Luxor International Hospital said five of the injured would be transferred to Cairo for further treatment. French consular sources said the gondola had become detached from the balloon, perhaps because it was overloaded. In all, there were 24 tourists on board. The tourists had been floating over the west bank of Luxor, one of Egypt s most renowned archaeological sites and home to the famous Valley of the Kings and the grand Temple of Hatshepsut. Hot air ballooning, usually at sunrise over the Karnak and Luxor temples as well as the Valley of the Kings, is a popular pastime in the city. In April 2008, seven tourists were injured in a similar crash. -Agencies
