A tragic plane crash occurred in the tourist city of Gramado, located in southern Brazil, on Sunday, claiming the lives of 10 passengers. The small aircraft crashed into shops, causing widespread devastation. According to civil and defense officials, it is feared that none of the passengers survived the crash.
Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul responded quickly to the incident, announcing on social media that local and state security forces were mobilized for emergency operations. Leite assured that the area was being isolated, and efforts were underway to treat victims who had suffered injuries from the incident. “At the moment, the priority is to ensure the isolation of the area and treat the victims who suffered injuries. Unfortunately, initial information indicates that the occupants of the aircraft did not survive,” said Leite in his statement.
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🚨 DEFESA CIVIL INFORMA
Acidente em modal aéreo – múltiplas vítimas – COBRADE 2.5.5.0.0
Em 22/12/2024 às 10h
GRAMADO/RS
Um avião caiu na manhã de hoje (22) no centro urbano de Gramado/RS. Equipes de emergência atuam neste momento no local.
Preliminarmente, o avião… pic.twitter.com/egFOugR37G
— Defesa Civil Nacional (@defesacivilbr) December 22, 2024
Reports from the state’s public security office indicated that 15 people were transported to the hospital, most of them suffering from smoke inhalation caused by the fire triggered by the crash. The aircraft reportedly hit a chimney of a building, followed by the second floor of a house, before crashing into a furniture store. The wreckage also scattered over a nearby inn, further intensifying the damage.
Gramado, known as the most popular tourist destination in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, is particularly busy during the Christmas season, attracting numerous visitors with its festive decorations and events. The city had already been severely impacted earlier this year by catastrophic floods, which destroyed infrastructure and caused numerous fatalities, further intensifying the area’s struggles.
This crash comes just days before Christmas, a time when Gramado would usually be bustling with tourists. The tragedy has left the city in shock, especially considering the holiday season’s importance to local businesses and tourism.
In a separate incident, Brazil also witnessed another tragic accident involving a bus crash in southeastern Brazil. The death toll from this bus crash, which occurred on the same day, was raised to 41. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva described the bus crash as a “terrible tragedy,” as the Federal Highway Police noted that this was the worst highway accident in Brazil since 2007. The bus crash occurred near the mining town of Teofilo Otoni in Minas Gerais state, further compounding Brazil’s ongoing struggles with transportation safety.
As Brazil deals with these devastating accidents, authorities are focusing on responding to both the aftermath and ensuring such tragedies are prevented in the future.
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