At least eight people have died and 13 others were injured when a hot air balloon caught fire mid-air and crashed early Saturday in Praia Grande, a coastal city in Brazil’s southern Santa Catarina state.
The tourism balloon, which was carrying 21 people, burst into flames before plummeting to the ground. The incident occurred during the early morning hours, according to Santa Catarina’s military fire brigade.
Dramatic footage shared by Brazilian outlet G1 shows billowing smoke as the balloon plunged dozens of meters, with onlookers heard screaming in horror.
Firefighters confirmed that the survivors were quickly transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened,” said Governor Jorginho Mello in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter). “What’s important now is to rescue, help, and comfort the families affected.”
Praia Grande is well-known for hot air ballooning, especially during June festivities that celebrate Catholic saints like St. John. The activity draws tourists from across Brazil during this seasonal celebration.
This marks the second fatal hot air balloon incident in less than a week in Brazil. Last Sunday, a separate balloon crash in São Paulo killed a 27-year-old woman and injured 11 others.
Authorities are now under pressure to tighten safety regulations on balloon operators across Brazil to prevent further tragedies.
