In April 1977, a terrifying and unexplained tragedy unfolded on a remote island in northeast Brazil. What began as a routine timber-harvesting trip for four brothers ended in death, horrifying burns, and one of the strangest unsolved mysteries in Brazilian history. Even more chilling, nearly a decade later, another group of workers reportedly suffered a nearly identical fate on the same island.
Known locally as “Crab Island,” the isolated location had long been surrounded by ghost stories, mysterious lights, and rumors of paranormal activity. But after the horrifying events of 1977, many locals became convinced that something sinister truly lurked there.
A Remote Island With a Dark Reputation
On the evening of April 25, 1977, 31-year-old Apolinario Souza Correia and his three brothers — Firmino, Oriano, and Jose — finished a long day cutting timber on an uninhabited island off the coast of northeast Brazil.
The brothers frequently visited Crab Island because the lumber they harvested could be sold for good money to local construction workers. Despite the island’s frightening reputation, the family never paid much attention to the stories.
Local residents claimed the island was haunted.
Visitors often reported hearing strange voices echoing through the forest at night. Others described mysterious glowing lights floating above the treetops after sunset. Since nobody actually lived on the island, these stories fueled widespread fear among nearby communities.
But the brothers believed the legends were nothing more than superstition.
Stranded by the Tide
The men had arrived during high tide around noon and spent the entire afternoon cutting trees. By evening, the tide had receded, leaving their boat stranded in thick mud near the shore.
Rather than wait impatiently, the brothers decided to eat dinner by a campfire and sleep aboard the grounded boat until the tide returned during the night.
The plan was simple:
- Sleep for a few hours
- Allow the incoming tide to lift the boat
- Wake up around midnight
- Sail home safely
After extinguishing the fire around 8:00 p.m., the brothers climbed into the cabin and quickly fell asleep.
But the night would become a nightmare.
The Horrifying Discovery at Sunrise
When Apolinario finally woke up, sunlight was already beginning to color the sky pink. Realizing they had overslept and missed high tide, he groaned in frustration.
Their boat had floated briefly during the night, only to settle back into the mud once the tide receded again.
As he looked around the cabin, Apolinario noticed something strange.
Two of his brothers, Firmino and Jose, still lay motionless beneath their blankets.
But Oriano was missing.
Then suddenly, Apolinario heard deafening screams coming from outside the cabin.
He rushed onto the deck and froze in horror.
Oriano was standing there screaming in agony, his body covered in severe burns. His skin appeared charred and peeling as though he had been engulfed in flames.
Yet shockingly, his clothes were untouched.
It looked as though only his skin had burned.
Burns With No Fire
Panicked and confused, Apolinario heard moaning from inside the cabin and ran back in.
He pulled the blanket away from Firmino and discovered his brother suffered the same horrifying injuries. His skin was badly burned and appeared to be falling off his body.
But again, his clothing showed almost no damage.
Jose, meanwhile, was dead.
The scene made no sense.
There was no fire inside the cabin. No evidence of an explosion. No obvious electrical source. And somehow, the victims’ skin had been burned without destroying their clothes.
A Six-Hour Wait Beside Death
Because the tide had not yet returned, Apolinario faced an agonizing reality.
He had to wait nearly six hours beside his injured brothers and Jose’s body before the boat could finally float free from the mud.
Once the tide rose, the survivors rushed back to the mainland.
Oriano stayed behind with Jose’s body while Apolinario transported Firmino to a nearby hospital, where doctors struggled to understand the bizarre injuries.
Firmino was barely conscious when physicians asked him what happened.
Right before slipping into a coma, he reportedly described seeing something terrifying outside the cabin window during the night:
A hovering ball of fire floating in the darkness.
Moments later, he remembered nothing.
The Investigation Into the Crab Island Mystery
Police launched a full investigation into the bizarre incident.
Authorities considered several theories:
Possible Explanations Investigators Explored
- The brothers may have attacked each other
- Drug or alcohol use may have caused hallucinations or accidents
- A lightning strike could have somehow traveled into the grounded boat
- Some unknown environmental phenomenon may have occurred
But investigators found almost no evidence supporting any explanation.
There were no signs of violence inside the cabin.
No evidence of a major fire.
No proof of intoxication.
And no clear environmental cause.
Ultimately, the case went cold.
Firmino and Oriano eventually recovered physically, but neither man could remember meaningful details about what happened that night.
Jose’s death remained unexplained.
The Chilling 1986 Incident
If the 1977 tragedy had been an isolated event, the mystery might eventually have faded into local folklore.
But nine years later, another terrifying incident reportedly occurred on Crab Island.
In April 1986, a crew of four timber workers traveled to the island for logging operations.
According to later accounts, the men suddenly heard a loud crashing sound coming from deep in the forest.
Then everything went black.
When they regained consciousness 18 hours later:
- One man was dead
- Another suffered mysterious burns
- None of the survivors remembered what happened
The similarities to the 1977 case were impossible to ignore.
Paranormal Theories and Local Legends
Over the years, Crab Island became the subject of countless paranormal theories.
Some people believed the mysterious lights seen above the island were UFOs or supernatural entities. Others thought the island itself was cursed.
Possible paranormal explanations often discussed include:
- Ball lightning
- Electromagnetic anomalies
- UFO encounters
- Supernatural hauntings
- Unknown atmospheric phenomena
Skeptics argue that memory distortion, natural electrical events, or exaggerated storytelling may explain the incidents.
Yet one disturbing detail continues to fascinate researchers:
The unusual burns that appeared to affect skin far more severely than clothing.
What Really Happened on Crab Island?
Nearly 50 years later, the mystery of Crab Island remains unsolved.
No official explanation has ever fully accounted for:
- The severe burns
- The untouched clothing
- The missing memories
- The mysterious glowing object
- The repeated incidents years apart
Whether the truth involved a rare natural phenomenon, human error, or something far stranger, the story of Crab Island continues to haunt Brazil’s coastal folklore.
And for many locals, the island’s terrifying reputation still endures to this day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Crab Island located?
Crab Island is reportedly located off the northeastern coast of Brazil. The island was largely uninhabited and primarily visited by timber workers and fishermen.
What caused the burns on the brothers?
No confirmed explanation was ever discovered. Investigators considered lightning, violence, intoxication, and environmental phenomena, but no theory was proven.
Did the survivors really see a floating ball of fire?
According to hospital reports, Firmino claimed he saw a hovering ball of fire outside the boat shortly before losing consciousness.
Was there another incident on Crab Island?
Yes. In 1986, another group of timber workers reportedly experienced a similar unexplained event involving burns, unconsciousness, and a death.
Is Crab Island considered haunted?
Many locals believe the island is haunted due to decades of reports involving strange lights, voices, and unexplained events.