‘They Started To Jump’: Eight People Dead In Terrifying Hot Air Balloon Accident In Brazil

dailycaller.com

At least eight people died in a hot air balloon crash Saturday morning in the city of Praia Grande, located in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, according to a statement from Governor Jorginho Mello on X.

“21 people on board – 8 fatalities, 13 survivors,” Mello wrote in his post. The state government later confirmed that 13 individuals survived, including the pilot, and that no one remains missing, BBC reported.

The crash occurred near a health center, according to the Santa Catarina state government press office, BBC reported.

Police officer Tiago Luiz Lemos, speaking from the Praia Grande police station, told reporters that the balloon’s pilot said a fire broke out inside the basket during the flight, BBC reported. “According to the pilot, who is one of the survivors, a fire started inside the basket, so he started to lower the balloon, and when the balloon was very close to the ground he told people to jump,” officer Tiago Luiz Lemos told reporters at the scene.

“They started to jump, but some people did not manage to. The flames started to grow and because of the weight, the balloon began to rise again,” Lemos continued. “It later fell because of a loss of suspension.”

Thirteen survivors were taken to nearby hospitals, the press office confirmed.

Governor Mello, who is currently on an official mission in China, posted a video on X stating he had deployed “the entire state structure” to support rescue and recovery efforts. “We are in mourning, what happened is a tragedy,” he said. “We will investigate why this happened. But the important thing now is to do everything possible to reach out to the people and the families.”

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also issued a statement on X, expressing “solidarity with the families of the victims” and confirming that “the federal government [is] at the disposal of the victims.” He added that “state and municipal forces” were working on the rescue and survivor care.

Praia Grande is a tourist destination known for its ballooning activities.