A hot air balloon rises into the early morning sky in front of the Canary Wharf financial district of London, July 25, 2011. Photo by Andrew Winning/Reuters

Hot air balloon carrying 16 people crashes near Austin, Texas

Nation

16 people have died after a hot air balloon caught fire and crashed in Lockhart, a city approximately 30 miles south of Austin, Texas, according to news reports.

The crash happened around 7:40 a.m. local time after the balloon appeared to catch fire, according to local news reports. The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office said there were no survivors, and investigators are working to confirm the victims' identities.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation into the scene.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, as well as the Lockhart community," Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement.

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Hot air balloon carrying 16 people crashes near Austin, Texas first appeared on the PBS News website.

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