A balloon with 21 people on board fell, resulting in the death of 8 occupants, this Saturday (21). The incident occurred in a forest area near the city, known for the practice of ballooning.
Captain Ian Triska, head of communication of the Santa Catarina Fire Department, provided details about the accident in an interview with CNN Brazil.
According to him, 13 people survived the fall, being immediately transferred to reference hospitals in the state.
Care for victims
About 30 military firefighters were mobilized to meet the occurrence, with the support of various vehicles and an aircraft.
The Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) assisted in medical regulation and transfer of victims.
“The victims were distributed to have a fast and quality service,” said Captain Triska. He stressed that, according to available information, the 13 survivors are not at risk of life.
Investigation ongoing
The causes of the accident are still unknown and will be investigated by the Civil Police and the Scientific Police of Santa Catarina. The Fire Department will also participate in the technical expertise on site.
Triska explained that the basic principle of operation of ballooning is convection, where hot air rises and cold air goes down.
However, the specific details of the incident still need to be studied to determine the real causes of the incident.
Victims Profile
According to the captain, many of the victims were tourists who enjoyed the holiday in Santa Catarina. The region is known for the practice of ballooning, with about 100 balloon flights made regularly in the city of Praia Grande.
The accident is considered rare, given the security history of activity in the region.
Authorities continue to work to provide assistance to victims and their families, while investigating the causes of the tragedy continues.
