A hot air balloon crashed near an ancient site near Mexico City on Friday, injuring at least twelve persons, according to local officials.
The balloon made a “forced landing” at San Martin de las Pirámides after colliding with an air pocket, according to a statement from Mexico’s civil protection office.
According to the statement, the twelve persons on board are receiving treatment for their injuries at a local clinic.
According to images given by officials and geolocated by CNN, the crash occurred near the Pyramid of the Moon, a renowned tourist landmark in the historic city of Teotihuacan. The balloon was hung over fencing and power lines on Tuxpan Avenue, a two-lane road located just over a thousand feet from the pyramid’s base.
The civil protection office further stated that the balloon was operated by a tour firm that provides hot air balloon excursions to see the pyramids from above. When CNN called the number posted on the company’s website, the representative declined to comment on the incident.
The Attorney General’s Office for the State of Mexico said that they are investigating a 29-year-old man apprehended by police.
According to the Mexican government, Teotihuacan was originally one of the biggest cities in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon serve as the twin nuclei of the ancient remains.
According to a government tourism website, visitors to Mexico enjoy balloon rides around the pyramids.
