Summary
On the afternoon of 20 January 1996, three young women walking through the Jardim Andere neighbourhood of Varginha, Brazil, reported encountering a strange humanoid figure crouching near a wall in a vacant lot. They described a small being with dark brown, oily-looking skin, prominent veins, unusually large red eyes and several protrusions on its head. Frightened by the encounter, they fled and told their families what they had seen. Their account soon became connected with other reports of unusual aerial activity, military vehicles and claims that one or more unidentified creatures had been captured, turning the Varginha Incident into one of Brazil's most famous UFO mysteries.
Additional Notes
In the days and years following the encounter, witnesses and UFO researchers reported alleged military activity, the capture and transport of unusual beings and visits to local medical facilities. These claims became central to the wider Varginha story but have never been independently verified. A Brazilian Army inquiry examined allegations of military involvement and concluded that no extraterrestrial capture had occurred, suggesting that the women may have mistaken a local man for an unusual creature. The witnesses rejected this explanation. No verified photographs, biological material or other physical evidence of a non-human being has been made public.
The Location Today
Reports refer to multiple urban locations in Varginha. Specific parcels and present-day access were not verified.
- Environment
- Urban Area
- Time of Day
- Afternoon, around 3:30 p.m.
- Evidence Level
- Official Record
- Visiting the Location
- Unknown
- Ownership of the Location
- Unknown