At least 8 people dead after the fall of a hot air balloon in Brazil

There were 21 people on board when the balloon landed in the town of Praia Grande on Saturday morning, Santa Catarina Governor Jorginho Mello said in an X-Twitter post.

According to the state government press office, thirteen people, including the pilot, have survived and no missing persons,reports BBCPeriscope broadcast.

It was added that the balloon had fallen near a health center.

“According to the pilot, who is one of the survivors, a fire broke out inside the basket, so he began to lower the balloon, and when he was very close to the ground, he told people to jump,” officer Tiago Luiz Lemos told reporters from the police station in Prague Grande.

They started jumping, but some couldn't. The flames began spreading, and because of its weight, the balloon began to rise again in the air.

“later fell due to the loss of air storage. ”

The press office reported that 13 survivors were transported to nearby hospitals.

In a video also posted on X, Mello é, who is on an official visit to China, he said he had sent “the entire state structure “to “saved, helped and console families”, and that he is continuing to follow the situation closely.

“We are in mourning, what happened is a tragedy,” he added.

We'll investigate why this happened. But most important now is to do all we can to help people and families. ”

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences in an X post declaring “solidarity with victims' families”.

He said he had placed “available to the federal government for victims” and that “state and municipal forces” were working on rescue and care for survivors.

The Grande area is south of Santa Catarina and is a popular tourist destination, especially for air balloon activities. /Periscopi