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At least 34 people were killed and dozens injured after a Colombian military C-130 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in the Amazon region. The plane, carrying 125 people, went down near Puerto Leguizamo in Putumayo province.
Colombia Military Plane Crash Kills 34
Bogota: A major military plane crash has occurred in the South American country of Colombia, killing at least 34 people and injuring dozens more. According to officials, the accident occurred when a military plane carrying 125 people crashed shortly after takeoff.
Defense Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sanchez stated that the "tragic accident" occurred in the Puerto Leguizamo area of Putumayo Province, located in the dense Amazon rainforest and bordering Peru and Ecuador. Rescue and relief operations were immediately launched following the crash.
Putumayo Department Governor Jhon Gabriel Molina told local media that 34 people have been confirmed dead so far, while 21 bodies are still to be identified. The injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals and are receiving treatment.
According to the Colombian Air Force, the plane that crashed was a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, carrying troops to another city in the Putumayo province. The Defense Minister stated that the plane struck the ground approximately 1.5 kilometers after takeoff. The fire that erupted inside the plane also detonated its ammunition, further exacerbating the damage.
Officials have clarified that no illegal organization or attack is involved in the accident. Preliminary investigations suggest it may be a technical or accidental cause.
Colombian Air Force Commander Carlos Fernando Silva stated that special aircraft equipped with 74 beds have been dispatched to evacuate the injured. They are being transported to hospitals in the capital, Bogota, and other cities.
It is worth noting that Colombia first acquired the Hercules C-130 aircraft in the 1960s and later modernized them. A similar accident recently occurred in Bolivia, killing more than 20 people.
The investigation into the accident is ongoing, and the government has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. This accident is a major blow to Colombia, and the entire country is mourning.
