At least 10 people are dead as a small plane crashes in the Brazilian tourist town of National

A small plane crashed in a popular Brazilian city on Sunday, killing all 10 passengers on board and injuring more than a dozen on the ground, Brazil's Civil Defense Agency said.

The X-listed agency said the plane hit the chimney of a house and the second floor of a building before crashing into a mobile phone shop in a residential area of ​​Gramado. More than ten people who were on the ground were taken to hospitals with injuries including smoke inhalation, two are said to be in critical condition.

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It is not yet clear what caused the accident.

Local media reported that the plane was piloted by Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, a Brazilian businessman who was traveling with his family to Sao Paulo State. In a statement published on LinkedIn, Galeazzi's company, Galeazzi & Associados, confirmed that the 61-year-old man was on the plane, adding that he was traveling with his wife, their three daughters, several other family members and another employee of the company. he died in an accident.

“In this moment of great pain we are deeply grateful for the expressions of solidarity and love we have received from friends, colleagues and the community” read the statement. “We also express our solidarity with those affected by this accident in the region.”

Surveillance cameras captured the Piper plane taking off from Canela Airport in Rio Grande do Sul State, minutes before it crashed in Gramado, about 10 kilometers from the airport.

Gramado is located in the Serra Gaucha mountains and is popular with Brazilian tourists who enjoy the mild climate, hiking trails and traditional architecture. The town was settled by large numbers of German and Italian immigrants in the 19th century and is a popular Christmas holiday destination.