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Hot air balloon crash in Brazil kills eight people

2025-06-21 20:35:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Hot air balloon crash in Brazil kills eight people

At least eight people have died after a hot air balloon carrying more than 20 people burst into flames and crashed in the sky in southern Brazil.

Footage posted on social media showed the moment the colorful balloon crashed to the ground, engulfed in flames, in the state of Santa Catarina on Saturday morning. At least two of the people on board can be seen falling to the ground as the fire spreads.

The picturesque canyon-filled region where the crash occurred - 270 kilometers from the state capital, Florianópolis - is a major tourist destination known as the "Brazilian Cappadocia", after the region of Turkey where spectacular hot air balloon rides are also popular.

Santa Catarina governor Jorginho Mello expressed “concern” about the incident, which occurred near the city of Praia Grande, and said rescue teams had been dispatched to the scene. “21 people on board - eight dead, 13 survivors,” Mello wrote on X. Other reports said the balloon was carrying 22 people.

A local newspaper, Jornal Razão, said the incident happened around 7 a.m. local time, as about 30 balloons rose into the air over Praia Grande, known by the nickname "Capital of the Canyon" of the state.

"When the balloon started to catch fire, people jumped out. They were trying to escape the flames," a witness told the newspaper. 

"It was a desperate scene. We saw some of them jumping out of the balloons and others trapped in the fire," another witness was quoted as saying.

Jornal Razão said the balloon's pilot - who is said to have been among the survivors - told officials that the fire was started by a spare torch located inside the balloon's basket.

"When he noticed the fire, the pilot tried to quickly descend the balloon. When the balloon was close to the ground, he ordered the passengers to jump out. Some managed to jump out and survived with injuries. Others, however, did not make it out in time," the pilot said, according to the newspaper.





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