At least eight people have died in a hot air balloon crash in southern Brazil, authorities have confirmed, after a fire broke out mid-flight in the city of Praia Grande, Santa Catarina state.
The balloon was carrying 21 people at the time of the incident. According to a statement from the state government press office, thirteen individuals, including the pilot, survived the crash and were taken to nearby hospitals. No one remains missing.
Santa Catarina Governor Jorginho Mello, who is currently on an official mission in China, said on social media platform X that he had deployed “the entire state structure” to support rescue efforts and provide assistance to families affected by the tragedy.
“We are in mourning, what happened is a tragedy,” Governor Mello said in a video message. “We will investigate why this happened. But the important thing now is to do everything possible to reach out to the people and the families.”
Police officer Tiago Luiz Lemos, speaking to reporters at the crash site, said the fire began inside the balloon’s basket shortly before the accident.
“According to the pilot, who is one of the survivors, a fire started inside the basket, so he started to lower the balloon, and when the balloon was very close to the ground he told people to jump,” Lemos explained.
“They started to jump, but some people did not manage to. The flames started to grow and because of the weight, the balloon began to rise again. It later fell because of a loss of suspension.”
The balloon crashed near a local health centre in Praia Grande, a city known for its scenic landscapes and hot air balloon tourism.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also expressed his condolences in a post on X, writing: “My solidarity with the families of the victims.” He added that the federal government was “at the disposal of the victims” and confirmed that “state and municipal forces” were engaged in rescue and recovery operations.
Investigations into the cause of the fire and crash are ongoing.
Boluwatife Enome
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