About Varginha UFO incident
The Varginha UFO incident refers to reports in January 1996 in Varginha, Brazil, that a strange creature was seen and captured by the military. Three young women stated they saw a short, brown, crouching creature with red eyes, which ufologists later linked to claims of crashed craft, captured beings, and military movements. Official military inquiries concluded that the young women had actually seen a local man with a mental disability and that the military activity was routine.
- Also known as
- "ET de Varginha"; "Brazil's Roswell"
- Date
- About 3–3:30 p.m., 20 January 1996 (related claims from about 13 January)
- Place
- Vacant lot on Rua Dr. Benevenuto Braz Vieira, between Jardim Andere and Santana, Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Witnesses
- Kátia Andrade Xavier (22) and sisters Liliane (16) and Valquíria (14) Fátima Silva
- Main ufologists
- Ubirajara Rodrigues; Vitório Pacaccini
- Official findings
- EsSA inquiry (1996); Military Police Inquiry (IPM, 1997, 357 pages): a local man, "Mudinho", and routine military activity
- Location
- Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Coordinates
- -21.5500, -45.4300 ↗
The full story, section by section
The story of Varginha UFO incident in 7 parts. Tap any part to read it in full.
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BackgroundVarginha, a town of about 100,000 people in southern Minas Gerais, lies in Brazil's coffee region, and much of the country's coffee passes through it.Read this part →
A coffee plantation in Varginha, in the heart of Brazil's coffee region. · Photo: Oluap2512, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons -
The sightingOn the morning of 20 January, according to ufologists' witnesses, the fire brigade received calls about a strange "animal" prowling the woods between Jardim Andere and Santana.Read this part → Illustration drawn for this site — not a photograph.
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Further claimsThe ufologist and lawyer Ubirajara Rodrigues, the case's main investigator, contacted the women the next day.Read this part →
An ocelot. An ocelot was among the animals that died at the Varginha Zoo in early 1996. · Photo: Tom Smylie, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons -
Official inquiriesIn May 1996 the EsSA commander ordered an inquiry, led by Colonel Rene Jairo Fagundes, into press reports involving the school's soldiers.Read this part →
A monument at the Escola de Sargentos das Armas in Três Corações, whose commander ordered the military inquiries. · Photo: Diegobiavati, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons -
The witnesses' later accountsThe three women deny any resemblance to Mudinho.Read this part → Illustration drawn for this site — not a photograph.
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AssessmentEven sympathetic ufologists have noted the lack of evidence, since the whole case rests on testimony.Read this part → Illustration drawn for this site — not a photograph.
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LegacyVarginha has embraced its alien.Read this part →
The spaceship water tower in Varginha, lit up at night. · Photo: Oluap2512, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Key people
The people at the centre of the story — witnesses, investigators, officials and sceptics:
- Kevin RandleKevin Randle is an American ufologist, author, and military veteran who is widely known as a leading expert on the Roswell incident. He served in the U.S.
Related cases & events
Events and sightings linked to Varginha UFO incident:
Programs, organizations & documents
The official programs, groups and papers involved:
Related topics & places
Ideas, terms and places that come up in the story:
🛸 UFO sightings near Varginha incident
38 sightings on ufos.dev were reported within 150 km. The most-upvoted:
![[James Fox] Leslie Kean reveals for the first time that her intelligence contacts confirmed the authenticity of the Varginha UFO crash. This means a lot for me and my team in Brazil. Courtesy of Jay…](/media/thumbs/19459-9af8343a.webp)
Sightings that mention Varginha UFO incident
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Questions & answers
What is Varginha UFO incident?
Varginha UFO incident: The Varginha UFO incident refers to reports in January 1996 in Varginha, Brazil, that a strange creature was seen and captured by the military. Three young women stated they saw a short, brown, crouching creature with red eyes, which ufologists later linked to claims of crashed craft, captured beings, and military movements. Official military inquiries concluded that the young women had actually seen a local man with a mental disability and that the military activity was routine. Read: Varginha UFO incident →
Where is Varginha UFO incident?
Varginha UFO incident is in Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil (about -21.550, -45.430). Read: Varginha UFO incident →
What else is Varginha UFO incident called?
Varginha UFO incident is also known as "ET de Varginha"; "Brazil's Roswell".
Who is Kevin Randle?
Kevin Randle is an American ufologist, author, and military veteran who is widely known as a leading expert on the Roswell incident. He served in the U.S. Read: Kevin Randle →
What is 1996 in UFO history?
1996 in UFO history: The article outlines UFO and UAP events, private research, and government investigations that occurred around the world in 1996. Notable occurrences included humanoid and UFO reports in Varginha, Brazil, NASA's announcement of possible past life in a Mars meteorite, and congressional briefings by Steven Greer's CSETI. Additionally, businessman Robert Bigelow expanded private anomaly research, Britain began Project Condign, and various military and intelligence developments took place. Read: 1996 in UFO history →
What is Operation Prato?
Operation Prato was a Brazilian Air Force investigation conducted in late 1977 around Colares island in Pará, Brazil, regarding local reports of strange, light-emitting phenomena that allegedly attacked residents. The operation officially concluded after a few months without finding unusual phenomena, though its records were later released to Brazil's National Archives and it remains a heavily discussed UFO case. Read: Operation Prato →
What is Grey alien?
Grey aliens are purported extraterrestrial beings depicted as small, hairless humanoids with large heads and black eyes, becoming popular cultural icons through modern abduction reports and media. The image spread significantly following the 1961 Betty and Barney Hill case and later appeared in various books, films, and conspiracy theories. Psychologists and skeptics view the appearance as a cultural product shaped by science fiction, early literature, and human associations with intelligence. Read: Grey alien →
Have UFOs been reported near Varginha UFO incident?
38 sightings on ufos.dev were reported within 150 km of Varginha UFO incident, and 44 mention it by name. Sightings near Varginha UFO incident →