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Tragic Hot Air Balloon Crash in Brazil Claims Eight Lives
SAO PAULO: A tragic incident occurred on Saturday when a hot air balloon caught fire and crashed in southern Brazil, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals.
The balloon, which was transporting 21 passengers, ignited in mid-air and plummeted to the ground near the picturesque tourist destination of Praia Grande. Thirteen passengers managed to escape, with some sustaining minor injuries.
This marks the second deadly hot air balloon incident in Brazil in less than a week.
Santa Catarina state governor Jorginho Mello shared the grim news via X, stating, "Eight fatalities and 13 survivors."
Footage captured by witnesses and shown on Brazilian media depicted the balloon engulfed in flames as it soared above a rural region near Praia Grande, a locale famous for hot air balloon excursions. As the basket full of passengers fell to the ground, flames enveloped it. Other clips showed some passengers jumping from the balloon while it was still in the air.
Emergency responders confirmed that 13 people were taken to local hospitals for treatment. At Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, among the five survivors treated, three were reported to be in stable condition with minor injuries, while two had already been released.
Further updates on the remaining survivors were not immediately available.
Authorities have begun an investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the accident. Reports indicated favorable weather conditions at the time.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences, stating, "I want to convey my sympathies to the families of those affected."
According to police official Tiago Luiz Lemos, the pilot informed investigators that the fire originated from a blowtorch used to ignite the balloon’s main flame within the basket. The pilot attempted an emergency landing as flames erupted and instructed passengers to jump when the balloon was lower to the ground. "However, some could not escape, and the fire spread quickly," Lemos reported.
Fire department official Zevir Cipriano Junior revealed that four individuals succumbed to severe burns, while another four died due to injuries sustained from the fall.
A witness recounted, “I saw two people falling, engulfed in flames, as the basket detached and the balloon descended."
This tragic accident follows another incident less than a week earlier in which a woman lost her life during a balloon ride in São Paulo state.
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