Tragically, at least eight lives were lost following the crash of a hot-air balloon carrying 21 passengers, including the pilot, in Brazil’s southern state of Santa Catarina, according to state officials.
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Governor Jorginho Mello shared the somber news on X, formerly Twitter, stating, “Eight fatalities and 13 survivors.”
Eyewitness videos aired by Brazilian television captured the harrowing moment when the balloon ignited in flames above Praia Grande, a coastal town known for its hot-air ballooning. Remarkably, the weather conditions were clear.
Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the site to assist. Witnesses described the distressing scene as the basket, engulfed in flames, plummeted to the ground.
As the situation unfolded, a spokeswoman for Santa Catarina firefighters noted, “We still have no information about the condition of the survivors,” leaving many in the community anxious for updates.
Praia Grande, with its picturesque Atlantic coastline, has long been a favored destination for hot-air balloon enthusiasts. The survivors are currently receiving medical treatment in local hospitals, as authorities work diligently to determine the accident’s cause.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences, saying, “I want to express my solidarity with the families of the victims.”
Authorities have launched an investigation into this tragic event. Initial reports indicate that the pilot mentioned the fire may have been ignited by a blowtorch located in the basket. Tiago Luiz Lemos, a police official in Praia Grande, revealed that the pilot attempted to land the balloon as soon as the fire broke out. “He instructed the passengers to jump once they were close to the ground; however, some were unable to escape, and the fire intensified,” he recounted.
A witness shared a chilling account with the Razão newspaper, saying, “I saw two people falling, engulfed in flames, as the basket detached and the balloon descended.” Sadly, this incident marks the second fatal balloon accident in Brazil within a matter of days, with a woman having lost her life in a separate hot-air balloon ride in southeastern São Paulo state less than a week prior.
As the investigations proceed, the community mourns, and our thoughts remain with the victims and their families during this difficult time.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
