According to police and eyewitness accounts, the fire began inside the balloon’s basket. “According to the pilot, who is one of the survivors, a fire started inside the basket, so he started to lower the balloon, and when the balloon was very close to the ground he told people to jump,” said officer Tiago Luiz Lemos of the Praia Grande police, per BBC News.

Thirteen people, including the pilot, managed to jump and survive. However, others could not escape in time.

Officer Lemos added: “They started to jump, but some people did not manage to. The flames started to grow and because of the weight, the balloon began to rise again. It later fell because of a loss of suspension.”

Cause of Fire Under Investigation

Chief of police Ulisses Gabriel told Brazilian broadcaster Globo News that the wind at takeoff