At least five people are dead following a disastrous hot air balloon crash in New Mexico, USA.Police in the city of Albuquerque, where the tragedy took place, updated the death count as they learned one of the wounded died at the hospital after being pulled from the disaster area near the intersection of Central and Unser, The Sun reports.
RELATED: Idiot fan causes ‘worst crash ever seen’
The accident happened at 7am local time on the west side of New Mexico’s largest city, police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos told AP News.
Observers saw the balloon crash against the top of the power lines, knocking one down entirely.
Afterwards, the gondola of the air balloon hit the street below, while the envelope (the inflated balloon part) floated onto a rooftop 1.6 kilometres away in a residential area.
Electricity provider PNM also announced that the crash caused a power outage that affected more than 13,000 people.
PNM is currently working to restore electricity to those effected.
“Our hearts are deeply saddened about the loss of lives today,” read a statement from PNM.
“Any time there are fatalities involved, it is incredibly hard for those involved, family and friends, for first responders, PNM crews and for so many others.
“This was a terrible incident. We would like to thank first responders and PNM crews for their work on this very sad day.”
The pilot is among those who died in the crash. One man had been transported to a local hospital. Initially listed in critical condition, police later confirmed the man “succumbed to his wounds”.
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission