Eight people are said to have died in a hot air balloon crash in Brazil.<\/p>\n
Today (June 21), Jorginho Mello, the governor of Santa Catarina state, verified the heartbreaking news on social media.<\/p>\n
He wrote, \u201cPreliminary information indicates that there were 22 people on board,\u201d on Twitter. \u201cSo far, we have confirmed eight deaths and two survivors were rescued alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rescuers are reportedly searching for the other passengers at the scene in Praia Grande, the second-most populated city in the nation on the S\u00e3o Paulo coast.<\/p>\n
Since then, the number of survivors has been revised to 13.<\/p>\n
Mello penned in a follow-up tweet shared shortly after his initial post: \u201cAccident update: 21 people on board \u2013 8 fatalities, 13 survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur teams continue to provide all necessary support to families and victims.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to monitor the situation,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
According to Reuters, the surviving were sent to local hospitals for immediate medical care.<\/p>\n
Officials have weighed in on the matter as well. They said in a statement, \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe corporation confirms 4 deaths at the scene and the other victims are being treated, searched for and evaluated by our teams.\u201d<\/p>\n
Online clip purports to show the balloon in the air and on fire. The basket containing the occupants, which is also alight, crashes to the ground when it totally deflates.<\/p>\n
Only a few days have passed since another hot air balloon accident in Turkey last week left one person dead and 19 injured.<\/p>\n
The pilot perished after becoming \u201cstuck under the basket,\u201d according to provincial governor Mehmet Ali Kumbuzoglu.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Nermin Yildirim Kara, an MP from the province of Hatay, wrote on Twitter, per LBC: \u201cWe wish God\u2019s blessings upon our peer who lost his life in the air balloon accident in the Ihlara Valley of Aksaray province, and a speedy recovery to those who have been injured.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is reported that a sudden change in wind conditions caused the balloon to encounter difficulties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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