According to local and state officials, a tragic hot air balloon accident in Santa Katrina, the southern state of Brazil, claimed the lives of at least eight people on Saturday.
Flight becomes fatal
The accident occurred in the city of Priya Grande in the morning, which is a popular place for beautiful balloon riding. The Santa Katrina State Fire Department confirmed that the balloon carrying 21 passengers caught fire before falling to the ground.
Emergency respondents arrived at the scene, managed to save the living passengers and take them to nearby hospitals for treatment. The identity of the victims has not yet been released publicly, and the condition of the injured is not clear.
Investigation is going on
Authorities have initiated a complete investigation to determine the cause of the fire. The initial report suggests a possible technical failure or fuel -related malfunction, but officials say it is very early to conclude.
A spokesperson of the State Civil Defense Agency said, “We are focusing on supporting the victims and their families, while working to highlight the accurate sequence of incidents due to this disastrous accident.”
A popular tourist activity, now under investigation
Hot-air balloon ride Priya Grande has a popular adventure activity, attracting tourists with breathtaking scenes of valleys and mountains. The accident has put a shade on the local tourism industry, in which several operators have suspended flights as a precaution.
National mourning and safety concern
The Brazilian government expressed condolences to the families of the victims and called for strict monitoring of the balloon tour operators. Aviation safety experts are now urging the implementation of more rigorous safety protocols for non-traditional flying services.
