19 dead as tourist balloon explodes at Luxor: Egypt security

People lift off in hot air balloons during a hot air balloon festival near Teotihuacan, just north of Mexico City, Sunday March 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

CAIRO: A hot air balloon exploded as it was flying over Egypt's ancient temple city of Luxor on Tuesday, killing 19 people including tourists from Hong Kong, Japan, France and Britain, a security official said.

"Nineteen people died," the official told AFP.

The balloon which was carrying 21 people was flying at 300 metres (yards) over Qurna, in Luxor's West Bank, when it caught fire before exploding, the official said.

The two survivors, including the balloon's pilot, have been taken to hospital, he said.

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