A hot air balloon pile up in Brazil allegedly resulted in the deaths of eight people.
The governor of Santa Catarina state Jorginho Mello confirmed the tragic news today (June 21) on social media.
On Twitter, he wrote: preliminary information, there were 22 persons on board. To date, we have confirmed death of eight and we rescued two alive.”
Rescue teams are then said to be combing the scene in Praia Grande, the second most populous city in the country situated on the edge of Sao Paulo.
The pronouncement of survivors has since then been corrected to 13.
Mello wrote a follow-up message on Twitter just after the first tweet: “Accident update: 21 people on board, 8 deaths, 13 survivors.”
Our teams are still offering maximum assistance to the families, and victims.
He said not to worry as the situation was being monitored.
Atualização do acidente:
— Jorginho Mello (@jorginhomello) June 21, 2025
21 pessoas a bordo – 8 vítimas fatais, 13 sobreviventes.
Nossas equipes seguem prestando todo apoio necessário às famílias e vítimas.
Continuamos acompanhando a situação.
Reuters identified the surviving and took them to hospitals across the area to receive medical treatment.
Authorities have also articulated their opinion on the situation. In a statement, they stated that, The Santa Catarina Military Fire Department (CBMSC) is attending a crash of a balloon in the municipality of Praia Grande in the southern region of the state that occurred at the morning of Saturday, June 21.
The corporation reports 4 deceased on the scene and the rest of the victims are under treatment, search, and assessment by our teams.
NOW – Hot air balloon crashed in Praia Grande, Brazil.pic.twitter.com/a0BveukfAU
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) June 21, 2025
On the Internet, there is a clip supposedly showing the balloon in the air and on fire. The basket with the occupants in it, and which is burning also, falls to the ground as it completely deflates.
It is just a matter of days that another accident was claimed on a hot air balloon in Turkey last week, resulting in one death and 19 others injured.
The pilot died having been trapped under the basket, provincial governor Mehmet Ali Kumbuzoglu said.
In another part of the country, Nermin Yildirim Kara, an MP representing the province of Hatay tweeted: this is according to LBC: We wish Gods blessing on our peer who died in the air balloon crash at the Ihlara valley in the Aksaray province and we wish speedy recuperation to those who have been injured.
Sudden change of wind conditions, it is said, had led the balloon into difficulties.
