A Colombian Air Force plane has crashed in the south of the country, leaving at least eight people dead.
Air force commander Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda stated that 114 army personnel were aboard, along with 11 crew members. So far, 48 individuals have been rescued from the wreckage and transported to hospitals.
Regional governor Jhon Gabriel Molina confirmed that eight people were pronounced dead and more than 80 individuals sustained injuries in the incident that occurred on Monday.
The aircraft, a US-made C-130 Hercules designed for troop transportation, went down near Puerto Leguízamo in Putumayo province. Emergency workers are combing through the wreckage in search of survivors.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
According to Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez, the plane was involved in a tragic accident while it was taking off from Puerto Leguízamo, transporting troops of our security forces and stated it was a deeply saddening event for the country.
Images from local media depict smoke rising from the crash site, with military trucks heading to assist. Eyewitness reports suggest locals have been aiding in transporting injured personnel to hospitals via smaller vehicles.
President Gustavo Petro expressed his sorrow regarding the incident on social media, describing it as horrendous and attributed the mishap to bureaucratic delays that have hindered the modernization of military equipment.
In a similar incident last month, a Bolivian Air Force C-130 Hercules crashed while transporting banknotes, resulting in at least 20 fatalities.
