Four Dutch tourists died in the crash Wednesday in Guilin, a popular tourist spot, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Five of the balloon's passengers were foreigners, all of them Dutch nationals, four of whom died in the tragedy.
The balloon is one of three carrying a total 18 Dutch tourists for a 45-minute tour of Lipu County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It was returning to Guilin when the accident happened.
Investigators say the balloon hit trees while it was trying to land and caused a fuel bottle to leak. The fuel then caused the fire.
Balloon law prohibits the sale or distribution of a balloon that is constructed of electrically conductive material (“Mylar or foil) and filled with a gas lighter than air (helium), without affixing an object of sufficient weight to the balloon to counter the lift capability, affixing a specified warning statement on the balloon, and affixing a printed identification of the balloon’s manufacturer.Animal Balloons
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