At least 16 people have been confirmed dead after a hot air balloon crashed into a pasture outside the central Texas city of Lockhart on Saturday, local media reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the balloon caught fire before crashing.

Local TV broadcasters quoted the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office as saying there were no survivors of the crash.

"The balloon was occupied and it does not appear at this time that there were any survivors of the crash," said Caldwell County Sheriff Daniel Law.

The accident occurred around 7:40 a.m. near the central Texas town, the FAA said in a statement, adding that the balloon collided with power lines before crashing into a pasture.

The agency added that FAA investigators were on the way to the crash site, which is located around 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Austin.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott offered his condolences for those who lost their lives in the crash.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, as well as the Lockhart community," he said in a statement.

The National Transportation Safety Board is also due to arrive on the scene and will investigate the crash, an agency spokesman said.

rs/rc (AP, Reuters, dpa)