Two tourists died and three others were injured when a hot air balloon crashed in high winds in the tourist attraction of Cappadocia in Turkey.

The balloon, which took off from a monastery near the town of Avanos, was carrying 28 tourists and two crew members.

“The hot air balloon came down abruptly at 8:50 am (05:50 GMT) after it unexpectedly became very windy,” said a statement from the governor’s office in Nevsehir, the central province of Cappadocia.

“During the landing of the balloon, which was carrying 28 passengers and two crew members, two Spanish nationals lost their lives, while three Spanish citizens were injured,” the statement continued.

“The treatment of those injured is continuing in hospitals in our city and they are not life-threatening.”

The local authorities said they have launched an inquiry into the accident.