Brazil's hot air balloons capture fires and waterfalls, kill 8 people, and injure 13-National
Firefighters said a hot air balloon caught fire and fell from the sky on Saturday in the state of Santa Catarina, south of Brazil, killing eight people.
Footage shared by local news media G1 shows that smoke from the balloon was wasted when it hit the ground in the city of Praia Grande.
In the video on social media, two people can be seen falling into the air while spreading on the plane.
Ulisses Gabriel, head of the civil police force in Santa Catarina, said the three hugged each other.
Santa Catarina's military fire brigade said 13 people survived and were taken to the hospital, adding that 21 people, including pilots, were boarded.
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“We are mourning. A tragedy happened. We will see how it developed, what happened, why. But now it is important that the national structure do its best,” Governor Jorginho Mello said in a video on X.
Mello said he had asked authorities to go to the municipality to “save, help, go to the hospital and comfort the family as much as possible.”
The pilot, one of the survivors, said a fire opened fire in the basket and then he began lowering the balloon. He ordered people to jump out of the basket when the balloon was very close to the ground. ”
“Some of them didn't manage to jump. The fire increased and the balloon eventually fell,” Lemos added.
G1 reported that the expected flight time of the balloon is 45 minutes, the balloon reaches 1,000 meters, and the price per passenger is 550 thunder (about $137).
Praia Grande is a common destination for hot air balloons, a popular event in certain parts of southern Brazil in June celebrations, celebrating the feast of Catholic saints like St. John, who is June 24.
G1 reported that a balloon fell at St. Paul State University last Sunday, killing a 27-year-old woman and injuring 11 other people.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
