13 SURVIVE BALLOON HORROR
NIGHTMARE: Eight people have died in a hot-air balloon accident in Brazil.
Image: Screenshot
TRAGEDY struck in Brazil when a hot-air balloon joyride turned into fiery death trap in the sky.
At least eight people were killed on Saturday when the balloon with 21 passengers caught fire in southern Brazil, said the governor of Santa Catarina state, where the incident occurred.
Miraculously, Governor Jorginho Mello said on X: “Eight fatalities and 13 survivors”.
Videos taken by bystanders and carried on Brazilian television showed the moment when the balloon erupted in flames above the coastal town of Praia Grande.
Viral online footage shows the balloon ascending and then horror unfolds when flames erupted in the basket.
Moments later, the silhouette of someone hanging off the underside to the basket can be seen as they tried to escape the blaze.
A second person then emerges from the side of the basket, hangs onto the underside of the basket before falling for at least seven seconds to the forest below.
Gasps of horror can be heard from the mense filming the scenes.
Then as the flames begin to reach the balloon, the first person drops, followed closely by another person who jumps.
With the balloon destroyed, the basket carrying the rest of the passengers plummeted dozens of metres to the ground in flames.
An investigation was launched to determine the cause of the accident.
That was the second fatal balloon accident in the country in just a few days.
Less than a week ago, a woman died during a ride in southeastern São Paulo state.