PERU (MNN); A military transport aircraft carrying 121 people, mostly soldiers, crashed shortly after takeoff in southwestern Colombia on Monday, leaving at least one person dead and dozens injured.
According to Defence Minister Pedro SƔnchez, the tragic incident occurred in Puerto Leguizamo, a remote area in Putumayo province near the borders with Peru and Ecuador.
The Colombian Air Force confirmed that at least 77 people were rescued with injuries, while rescue operations continued at the crash site. The aircraft involved was a Hercules C-130 carrying 110 soldiers and 11 crew members.
Officials said the plane was transporting troops to another city in the region when it developed a technical problem and went down approximately two kilometres from the airport.
Videos circulating on social media showed thick black smoke rising from the crash site, while local residents assisted in rescue efforts, transporting injured soldiers on motorcycles.
President Gustavo Petro confirmed at least one fatality and called for accountability, linking the ŲŲ§ŲÆŲ«Ū to delays in modernising military equipment. He stressed that officials failing to meet responsibilities should be removed.
Authorities have dispatched additional aircraft equipped with medical facilities to transfer the injured to hospitals in BogotĆ” and other cities.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, as officials continue rescue and relief operations in the Ų§ŁŁ ŁŲ·ŁŲ©.
