Hot Air Balloon crash in Brazil kills at least 8 people after a fire pops up
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A hot balloon with 21 people In Brazil The fire was set on Saturday morning and crashed, killing at least eight people, Santa Catarina’s military firefighters said.
The crash occurred in Santa Catarina, a southern Brazilian state. fire It started with a basket and forced the pilots to try to land, officials said.
A video shared on social media shows black smoke swirling over the tension balloons towards the ground in a wooded area near the town of Praia Grande, popular for hot air balloons.
Thirteen survivors, including the pilot, were taken to hospitals that were not injured.
A hot balloon carrying 21 people in Brazil sparked a fire Saturday morning and crashed, killing at least eight people, Santa Catalina’s military firefighters said. (CBMSC/Brazil/Handout/Anadolu Getty Images)
Survivors managed to survive by jumping out of the balloon when the fire first began, officials said.
After some of the passengers popped out, the balloon first began to rise again.
“These people were almost dying. There were four charred pieces, and four more jumped out of the balloon when the balloon fell,” said Lt. Col. Zevir Cipriano Jr.
“We are in mourning,” Santa Catalina Gorguinho Mello said in the X video.
He added that he asked authorities to “do as much as possible” to help the victims and their families.
Santa Catarina Civic Police Chief Gabriel died with three victims hugging each other.
“It hurts the soul,” he said.
Emergency services are operating in an area where hot balloons crashed after at least eight people died in Santa Catarina, Brazil on Saturday. (CBMSC/Brazil/Handout/Anadolu Getty Images)
It cost $100 per person and was expected to reach 3,280 feet in a 45-minute length. The height when the balloon starts to fall is not clear.
“Despite all the precautions needed and the pilot’s efforts, we are suffering from the pain caused by this tragedy despite having extensive experience and following all the recommended procedures to get everyone to the balloon,” Hot Air Balloon Company Sobrevoar said in a statement.
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Sobrevoar added that it followed all regulations for rides and previously had a clear record. The operation is currently suspended indefinitely.
According to the government, approximately 25-30 hot air balloon trips depart from the area every day.
Members of the Brazilian Centre for Research and Prevention (Senipa) will walk on the boat next to the wreckage of a hot air balloon that crashed with 21 people in the Pria Grande, Santa Catalina province of southern Brazil on Saturday. (Silvio Avila/AFP via Getty Images)
Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva He expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and said the federal government could use it to support the investigation.
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Last Sunday, another hot balloon crashed in Brazil’s state of Sao Paulo, killing one woman and injuring 11 others.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to the report.