2 Spanish Tourists Killed in Air Balloon Accident in Türkiye’s Cappadocia

Sight-seeing hot air balloons launch in Goreme Historical National Park, east of Nevesehir (Neapolis) in the province of the same name in central Türkiye's historical Cappadocia (Kapadokya) region on August 24, 2022. (AFP)
Sight-seeing hot air balloons launch in Goreme Historical National Park, east of Nevesehir (Neapolis) in the province of the same name in central Türkiye's historical Cappadocia (Kapadokya) region on August 24, 2022. (AFP)
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2 Spanish Tourists Killed in Air Balloon Accident in Türkiye’s Cappadocia

Sight-seeing hot air balloons launch in Goreme Historical National Park, east of Nevesehir (Neapolis) in the province of the same name in central Türkiye's historical Cappadocia (Kapadokya) region on August 24, 2022. (AFP)
Sight-seeing hot air balloons launch in Goreme Historical National Park, east of Nevesehir (Neapolis) in the province of the same name in central Türkiye's historical Cappadocia (Kapadokya) region on August 24, 2022. (AFP)

Two Spanish tourists were killed and three were injured on Tuesday when the hot air balloon they were traveling in made a hard landing in Türkiye’s Cappadocia, the local governor's office said.

The hot air balloon had taken off from the district of Avanos at sunrise, the governor of Nevsehir province said.

"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," he said in a statement.

"The treatment of those injured is continuing in hospitals in our city and they are not life-threatening," it said.

The statement said the accident was caused by an unexpected increase in wind speed, according to initial assessments.

Hot air balloon rides are one of the most popular activities in the Cappadocia region, where they fly over valleys and volcanic "fairy chimney" formations.



Russia’s Medvedev Warns the US: Avoid World War Three

 Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and leader of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev speaks during a meeting of the United Russia party's programme commission via videoconference at the Gorki state residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Ekaterina Shtukina, Sputnik Pool Photo via AP)
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and leader of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev speaks during a meeting of the United Russia party's programme commission via videoconference at the Gorki state residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Ekaterina Shtukina, Sputnik Pool Photo via AP)
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Russia’s Medvedev Warns the US: Avoid World War Three

 Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and leader of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev speaks during a meeting of the United Russia party's programme commission via videoconference at the Gorki state residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Ekaterina Shtukina, Sputnik Pool Photo via AP)
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and leader of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev speaks during a meeting of the United Russia party's programme commission via videoconference at the Gorki state residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Ekaterina Shtukina, Sputnik Pool Photo via AP)

Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Russian security official who served as Russia's president from 2008 to 2012, warned the United States on Saturday to take Russia's nuclear warnings seriously to avoid World War Three.

Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of Russia's powerful security council, told RT broadcaster that top US officials did not want World War Three but for some reason they believe "that the Russians will never cross a certain line."

"They are wrong," Medvedev told RT, adding that Moscow believed the current US and European political establishments lacked the "foresight and subtlety of mind" displayed by the late Henry Kissinger.

"If we are talking about the existence of our state, as the president of our country has repeatedly said, your humble servant has said, others have said, of course, we simply will not have any choice," Medvedev said.

The 2-1/2-year-old war in Ukraine is entering what Russian officials say is its most dangerous phase as Russian forces are advancing in eastern Ukraine and the West considers how to shore up Ukraine.

Russia has been signaling for weeks to the West that Moscow will respond if the United States and its allies help Ukraine fire longer-range missiles deep into Russia, while NATO says that North Korea has sent troops to western Russia.

Russian officials say the leaders of the West have failed to heed the signals Moscow has sent over European security and the escalation of the war in Ukraine.

US diplomats say the relationship with Russia is worse than at any time since the depths of the Cold War but that Washington does not seek to escalate the war in Ukraine.