Investigation launched into Brazil hot air balloon crash; 8 dead, survivors hospitalized
A tragic incident unfolded in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, on Saturday, June 21, 2025, as a hot air balloon carrying 21 passengers caught fire, resulting in the loss of eight lives. Governor Jorginho Mello confirmed that there were 13 survivors. Videos captured by bystanders and shown on Brazilian television depicted the balloon igniting above Praia Grande, a coastal town. The basket, engulfed in flames, tragically plummeted to the ground as onlookers watched in horror. The survivors are currently receiving medical care in nearby hospitals, as authorities work to establish the cause of the accident. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva conveyed condolences to the victims' families. According to police official Tiago Luiz Lemos, the pilot reported that the fire originated from a blowtorch in the basket, and despite his efforts to descend the balloon and urge passengers to jump to safety, not all were able to escape before the fire intensified. This heartbreaking incident marks the second fatal balloon accident in Brazil within a short span of time, with a similar tragedy occurring just days earlier in Sao Paulo state.
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