A tragic plane crash shook the tourist city of Gramado in southern Brazil on Sunday, killing all 10 people aboard, according to initial reports from civil defense officials.
In a statement on social media, Governor Eduardo Leite confirmed the fatalities, showing deep sorrow over the incident. “Unfortunately, preliminary reports indicate that occupants of the aircraft did not survive,” he wrote.
A major airplane accident which had the crash in the city centre and causes some significant damage to local businesses. According to authorities, it had clipped the chimney of the building, struck the second floor of a house before crashing into a furniture store. Debris from the accident further damaged a nearby inn.
The Rio Grande do Sul state public security office reported that at least 15 people were hospitalized, mainly due to smoke inhalation from the resulting fire.
Gramado, a city in a very scenic mountainous region, is one of the country’s favorite tourist destinations, especially at this time of the year. The city is known for its elaborate Christmas decorations and events, making the accident even more devastating just days before the holiday.
Following some earlier challenges that had rocked the region, which recently had catastrophic floods earlier this year, it witnessed another tragedy. The natural disaster has caused dozens of deaths, ruined infrastructure, and brought serious disruption to the local economy.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing as the city mourns this heartbreak during what is normally the season of joy and celebration.
