Brazil remains shaken by the hot air balloon accident that caught fire mid-flight and left at least eight dead in Praia Grande, in the state of Santa Catarina.
Among the many testimonies that have emerged after the tragedy, one of the most shocking was that of a woman who witnessed the scene from the ground and described the desperate attempts by some passengers to escape the flames.
“We saw people jumping from the balloon, which was already on fire. It was true desperation”, the witness told local media.
According to her account, it all began when she and her family noticed something strange in the sky. At first they thought it was a normal maneuver, but they realized they were facing an emergency.
The woman recalled that as the balloon descended engulfed in flames, several people tried to save themselves by jumping into the void. She also said that cries for help could be heard from the area where the aircraft ultimately crashed.
Authorities reported that the balloon was carrying 21 people. Thirteen survived and eight lost their lives, including an entire family. Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the fire that ultimately triggered the tragedy.
While emergency crews work to clarify what happened, the account of those who watched the scene from the ground has become one of the most harrowing aspects of an accident that has shocked all of Brazil.
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