A hot air balloon carrying 22 people burst into flames and crashed in southern Brazil on June 21, killing at least eight and injuring several others. The tragedy occurred in the scenic region of Praia Grande, Santa Catarina—a popular destination for hot air ballooning.

Dramatic footage captured by local media outlet G1 and shared widely online shows thick smoke trailing from the balloon as it plummets to the ground. Another harrowing video shows two individuals falling through the air as flames rapidly spread across the balloon’s basket.

According to Santa Catarina’s Military Fire Brigade, 13 people survived the crash and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Officials confirmed that 21 people were officially on board, including the pilot, though there are reports a last-minute passenger may have joined, raising the total number to 22. Authorities are actively searching for that individual.

“We are in mourning. A tragedy has occurred,” said State Governor Jorginho Mello in a statement posted on X. “The priority now is for state emergency services to do everything they can—rescue efforts, hospital care, and support for the families.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. However, the pilot, who survived, told Brazilian outlet Jornal Razão that the blaze appeared to start in a back-up burner stored in the basket.

“I don’t know if it stayed lit or reignited on its own, but it was the torch that caused everything,” he said.

After detecting the fire, the pilot attempted an emergency descent and urged passengers to jump when the balloon neared the ground. Some followed the instruction and survived, albeit with injuries. Tragically, others were unable to escape in time.

Witnesses said that as passengers jumped, the balloon—now significantly lighter—lifted back into the air, still ablaze. It eventually detached from the basket, sending it hurtling to the ground. None of the passengers who remained in the basket are believed to have survived.

The balloon had been scheduled for a 45-minute flight and was expected to reach altitudes over 3,000 feet, according to G1.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and horrifying. One told Jornal Razão, “We saw two people fall while on fire. After the basket broke off, the balloon came crashing down completely.”

Another witness added, “When we arrived, a woman covered in mud and in shock was alive, and a man was limping. In the pasture, we found two bodies near the horses. The balloon was further in the woods, still burning. Firefighters asked us to move our cars due to the risk of an explosion from the gas tanks.”

Emergency teams remain at the crash site, continuing search and recovery efforts while authorities work to confirm the full list of victims and determine what led to the deadly fire.