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At least 66 people have been confirmed dead, with dozens injured, following a military plane crash shortly after takeoff in Colombia, authorities have said.
The ill-fated aircraft, a C-130 Hercules, was carrying 144 soldiers when it went down near the town of Puerto Leguízamo in Putumayo province, close to the border with Peru.
According to Air Force commander Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda, there were 114 army personnel and 11 crew members on board. Initial reports from military and security sources indicate that 66 people lost their lives in the crash.
Emergency responders were swiftly deployed to the scene, combing through the wreckage in search of survivors, while injured victims were transported to nearby hospitals, in some cases by locals using motorcycles.
Colombia’s Defence Minister, Pedro Sánchez, described the incident as a “tragic accident” that occurred during takeoff. He later revealed that a fire on board triggered explosions from ammunition being transported on the aircraft, worsening the disaster.
The plane, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is widely used for troop and cargo transport.
President Gustavo Petro expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it a “horrendous accident” and suggesting that delays in modernising military equipment may have contributed to the tragedy. He vowed to fast-track reforms to prevent similar occurrences.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The disaster ranks among the deadliest air accidents in recent history involving Colombia’s military.
The incident follows a similar tragedy last month in Bolivia, where another C-130 Hercules crash claimed at least 20 lives.
