A series of sightings in and around Varginha, Brazil, involving reports of an unusual humanoid creature, military response, alleged creature recovery operations, and claims that unidentified beings were transported to military facilities.
Beginning on January 20, 1996, residents of Varginha reported seeing a strange humanoid creature with brown skin, large red eyes, and an unusually large head. Three young women claimed to observe the being crouching near a wall. Additional reports described military personnel capturing one or more creatures and transporting them away in army vehicles. Local firefighters, police officers, hospital workers, and civilians later became associated with various aspects of the incident. Although Brazilian authorities denied extraterrestrial involvement, the case remains one of the most discussed UFO incidents in South America.
| Date: | 1996-01-20 |
| Location: | Varginha, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Country: | Brazil |
| Category: | Close Encounter / Alleged Creature Recovery |
| Credibility: | Contested / Multiple Independent Witnesses |