At least eight people have died after a hot-air balloon burst into flames and plunged to the ground in Brazil – as it is claimed several miraculously survived.
The horrifying crash happened today in the country’s southern state of Santa Catarina, in its Praia Grande region – a well-known hot air ballooning location.
The state governor Jorginho Mello announced the deaths this morning in a post on X, which has now been deleted as the situation continues to develop.
His latest update on the social media platform states there were 21 people onboard, with eight fatalities and an incredible 13 survivors.
But reports differ, with the state fire department having said in its most recent update: ‘The corporation confirms four deaths at the scene and the other victims are being treated, searched for and evaluated by our teams.’
The cause of the accident is still being investigated and rescue teams are on the ground searching for those not accounted for.
But the pilot, amazingly, survived, according to Brazilian outlet Jornal Razao, and has since explained the fire reportedly started in a back-up burner stored in the basket.
Somehow, it caught alight, he explained: ‘I don’t know if it stayed lit or if it reignited on its own, but it was the torch that started it all.’
After noticing the flames, the pilot immediately tried to lower the balloon, ordering passengers to jump when the craft got close to the ground.
Some managed to leap to safety, surviving with injuries – but others did not make it out in time.
The hot air balloon weighed much less after those people had escaped – so it rose up into the sky, carrying the passengers who stayed behind in the basket with it.
One astonishing video posted to X, recorded from the ground, shows flames from the burner shooting up towards the balloon.
It quickly deflates, giving off a large cloud of black smoke – before the basket itself then catches light as the aircraft plunges to the ground at incredible speed.
It then actually detaches from the balloon, hurtling through the air even faster as flames and smoke streak up into the sky.
An enormous crash and a terrified scream can soon be heard as it falls into a wooded area.
The coastal Praia Grande area where the shocking accident happened is well-known as a hot air ballooning destination, Brazilian news website G1 reports.
The spot in the extreme south of the Santa Catarina state is often referred to Brazilian Cappadocia, for its similarities to the famous tourist ballooning region in Turkey.
The state fire department said in its latest statement: ‘The Santa Catarina Military Fire Department (CBMSC) is currently responding to a balloon crash in the municipality of Praia Grande, in the south of the state, which occurred on the morning of Saturday, June 21.’
State governor Mr Mello has also said on X: ‘Our teams continue to provide all necessary support to families and victims.
‘We continue to monitor the situation.’
It comes less than a week after a woman died during a hot air balloon ride in the Brazilian city of São Paulo.
Juliana Alves Prado Pereira, 27, a psychologist from the Pouso Alegre region of Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, was on a trip there with her husband Leandro de Aquino Pereira.
More than 30 people were onboard the hot air balloon – and 11 of them were injured.
This is a breaking news story. More updates to follow.
