8 killed, 13 injured after hot-air balloon catches fire and falls in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO — A hot-air balloon caught fire and tumbled from the sky on Saturday in Brazil 's southern state of Santa Catarina, killing eight people, firefighters said.
Footage shared by local news outlet G1 showed billows of smoke coming from the balloon in flames as it hurtled toward the ground in the municipality of Praia Grande.
Thirteen people survived and were taken to hospitals, Santa Catarina's military fire brigade said, adding that 21 people were on board including the pilot.
'We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened. But the important thing now is for the state structure to do what it can,' Gov. Jorginho Mello said in a video on X.
Mello said he has asked authorities to head to the municipality 'to do as much as possible to rescue, to help, to take to hospital, to comfort the families.'
Praia Grande is a common destination for hot-air ballooning, a popular activity in some parts of Brazil's south during June festivities that celebrate Catholic saints such as St. John.
Last Sunday, a balloon came down in Sao Paulo state, killing a 27-year-old woman and injuring 11 other people, G1 reported.
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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Eight dead after hot-air balloon bursts into flames
At least eight people have died after a hot-air balloon caught fire and plunged to the ground in Brazil. Of the 21 people on board, 13 survived and have been rushed to the hospital in the city of Praia Grande. Footage shared by the local news outlet G1 appeared to show the hot-air balloon catching fire and plummeting towards the ground, letting out billows of smoke. In a video on X, Jorginho Mello, governor of Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina, said: 'We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened. But the important thing now is for the state structure to do what it can.' The governor added that he has asked authorities to head to the municipality 'to do as much as possible to rescue, to help, to take to hospital, to comfort the families'. Praia Grande, which is known as the 'capital of the canyons', is a common destination for hot-air ballooning and attracts scores of tourists. Local sources say an investigation has been launched to discover the cause of the incident. The accident comes after a woman died in a hot-air balloon ride in Brazil's southeastern state of Sao Paulo on June 15.
NBC News
4 hours ago
- NBC News
8 killed, 13 injured after hot-air balloon catches fire and falls in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO — A hot-air balloon caught fire and tumbled from the sky on Saturday in Brazil 's southern state of Santa Catarina, killing eight people, firefighters said. Footage shared by local news outlet G1 showed billows of smoke coming from the balloon in flames as it hurtled toward the ground in the municipality of Praia Grande. Thirteen people survived and were taken to hospitals, Santa Catarina's military fire brigade said, adding that 21 people were on board including the pilot. 'We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened. But the important thing now is for the state structure to do what it can,' Gov. Jorginho Mello said in a video on X. Mello said he has asked authorities to head to the municipality 'to do as much as possible to rescue, to help, to take to hospital, to comfort the families.' Praia Grande is a common destination for hot-air ballooning, a popular activity in some parts of Brazil's south during June festivities that celebrate Catholic saints such as St. John. Last Sunday, a balloon came down in Sao Paulo state, killing a 27-year-old woman and injuring 11 other people, G1 reported.
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
At least eight killed in horror hot air balloon crash in Brazil ‘after aircraft caught fire and plummeted to the ground'
AT least least eight people died after a hot-air balloon crashed in Brazil's southern region of Santa Catarina. The balloon is believed to have had an estimated 22 people onboard. Local governor Jorginho Mello said on X: "We are all shocked by the accident involving a balloon in Praia Grande, this Saturday morning. "Our rescue team is already on site. "So far, we have confirmed eight deaths and two survivors." Shocking footage uploaded to social media shows the hot air balloon erupt into flames in the sky before deflating and falling to the ground. .
