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March 21, 2026
‘I’ve seen the devil’: Brazil’s UFO capital marks 30 years since ‘alien encounter’
Sightings in Varginha in 1996 have been dismissed as hoax, but saga continues to draw people from around world
TL;DR
- In January 1996, Varginha, Brazil, experienced unusual events, including sightings of a strange creature and mysterious animal deaths.
- Locals like Marco Antônio Reis claim to have seen an otherworldly being, dubbing it the 'ET of Varginha'.
- A recent documentary and an army investigation suggest the events were a hoax, with claims of fabricated stories for financial gain and mass hysteria.
- Despite skepticism, some witnesses, including a neurologist, have come forward with new accounts, and many residents remain convinced of an extraordinary event.
- The 'Varginha Incident' has transformed the city into a tourist destination, with an ET museum and plans for a monument and theme park, capitalizing on its fame.