Overview

• The hot air balloon caught fire midair over Praia Grande on Saturday morning before crashing to the ground.
• Governor Jorginho Mello said 21 passengers were onboard, with eight confirmed dead and two survivors rescued.
• The Santa Catarina Military Fire Department reported four immediate fatalities and continues to treat and search for victims.
• Social media footage shows the balloon engulfed in flames and deflating rapidly, raising urgent safety concerns.
• This accident follows deadly balloon crashes in Turkey and São Paulo, prompting calls for stricter oversight.