Rio de Janeiro: A hot-air balloon caught fire mid-air and plunged to the ground in Brazil’s southern state of Santa Catarina on Saturday, killing eight people, according to local firefighters, news agency AP reported.

The incident occurred in Praia Grande, a town known for hot-air ballooning. Video footage published by news outlet G1 showed the balloon engulfed in flames and trailing smoke as it rapidly descended.

Separate social media clips captured two individuals falling through the air as the fire spread inside the basket.

According to Santa Catarina’s military fire brigade, the balloon was carrying 21 people, including the pilot.

Thirteen passengers survived and were taken to nearby hospitals.

“We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened. But the important thing now is for the state structure to do what it can,” Governor Jorginho Mello said in a video posted on X.

He said he had requested emergency services to assist with rescue operations and support affected families.

Praia Grande’s chief police officer, Tiago Luiz Lemos, told Folha de São Paulo that the fire originated inside the basket.

“According to the pilot, who is one of the survivors, a fire started inside the basket and then he began to lower the balloon. When the balloon was very close to the ground, he ordered people to jump out of the basket,” Lemos said. “Some of them didn’t manage to jump. The fire increased and the balloon ended up falling.”

G1 reported the balloon ride was expected to last 45 minutes, reaching an altitude of 1,000 metres, with a per-passenger cost of 550 reais (about $100).

Hot-air ballooning is a popular seasonal activity in southern Brazil, particularly during June festivals that honour Catholic saints such as St. John, whose feast falls on June 24.

This latest tragedy comes just days after a similar incident in São Paulo state, where another balloon crashed last Sunday, killing a 27-year-old woman and injuring 11 others.