At least 8 killed as hot-air balloon crashes in Brazil | World News
A hot-air balloon caught fire and crashed on Saturday in Brazil’s southern state of Santa Catarina, killing eight people, Reuters reported, citing firefighters.
Footage shared local news outlet G1 showed smoke rising from the burning balloon as it fell to the ground in Praia Grande.
The Santa Catarina military fire brigade said 21 people, including the pilot, were on board. Thirteen people survived and were taken to hospital for treatment.
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“We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened,” Governor Jorginho Mello said in a video posted on X. “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.”
Atualização do acidente:
21 pessoas a bordo – 8 vítimas fatais, 13 sobreviventes.
Nossas equipes seguem prestando todo apoio necessário às famílias e vítimas.
Continuamos acompanhando a situação.
— Jorginho Mello (@jorginhomello) June 21, 2025
Mello added that he had asked officials to go to Praia Grande “to do as much as possible to rescue, to help, to take to hospital, to comfort the families.”
Praia Grande is known for hot-air balloon rides, which are popular during June festivals that honour Catholic saints such as St John. His feast day is on 24 June.
As per AP report last week, another hot-air balloon accident took place in São Paulo state, where a woman was killed and 11 other people were injured, according to G1.
