Balloon wreckage to be removed from Carterton site

Work has ended at the site of the tragedy. Photo / NZ Herald

The wreckage of the hot-air balloon that crashed in Carterton on Saturday, killing 11 people, will be removed this afternoon from the paddock where it landed.

The wreckage has been loaded into a container, which will be transported by truck to a "secure Wairarapa location" overnight, a Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) said.

The container would be taken to TAIC's Wellington workshop facility tomorrow (Friday), where investigations into what caused the horrific disaster will continue.

The crash site will be blessed at midday today, before the wreckage is removed at 1pm. Somerset Road will reopen to the public later this afternoon.