(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />British consul John Hamilton visited the site of a hot air balloon crash near the ancient Egyptian town of Luxor on Wednesday (February 27), the day after the balloon caught fire and fell to the ground, killing 19 people.<br/> <br />The British government said two British citizens and a British resident of Egypt were among the dead, who were mainly European and Asian tourists.<br/> <br />The balloon came down in farmland a few kilometres from the Valley of the Kings and pharaonic temples popular with tourists.<br/> <br />Rescue workers had gathered the dead from the field where the charred remains of the balloon, gas canisters and other pieces of wreckage landed.<br/> <br />Speaking from the site on Wednesday, Hamilton said British authorities were working with the families of the British victims.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH CONSUL, JOHN HAMILTON, SAYING:<br/> <br />"We are working with the families of the British people, I know my colleagues from other embassies are working with their own nationals as well. We have been having a great deal of assistance and co-operation from the Egyptian authorities and we're very thankful for everything they are been doing so far as well."<br/> <br />Hot air ballooning at dawn is popular with tourists, who are a mainstay of the Egyptian economy.
