Eight people were killed after a hot-air balloon carrying 21 passengers, including the pilot, crashed on Saturday (June 21) in Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina, state officials said.

The tourism balloon caught fire during the flight in early morning hours, crashing in a forest area in the city of Praia Grande, according to the state fire department.

The city is a popular tourist spot for balloon trips in Brazil. The Santa Catarina government estimates that 25 to 30 hot-air balloons depart daily from Praia Grande in peak season, with most of them having capacity to transport as many as 25 people.

Thirteen survivors were transported to nearby hospitals, according to the fire department. A spokesperson of the department told local news outlet CNN Brasil that none of them were with their lives at risk.

In a post on X, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed solidarity with the families of the victims, saying the federal government is available to local and state forces acting in the case.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PRAIA GRANDE, SANTA CATARINA, BRAZIL (JUNE 21, 2025) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) (SANTA CATARINA MILITARY FIRE BRIGADE HANDOUT - Must on-screen courtesy Santa Catarina Military Fire Brigade / No archive / No resale)

1. FIREFIGHTERS STANDING NEAR SITE OF HOT-AIR BALLOON CRASH / RESCUE HELICOPTER FLYING OVERHEAD

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SANTA CATARINA FIRE DEPARTMENT, MAJOR RENAN FERNANDES, SAYING:

"We are here in the city of Praia Grande attending to a hot-air balloon crash incident, in which 21 people were present, 8 of whom died and 13 survived, who were taken to hospitals in the region."

3. AMBULANCES AT SITE

4. (MUTE) STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF RESCUERS COLLECTING BODIES OF VICTIMS