At least 34 people have been killed and dozens injured after a Colombian military plane crashed shortly after takeoff in the southern part of the country.
The crash occurred in Puerto Leguizamo, a remote municipality in Putumayo province near the borders with Peru and Ecuador, according to officials.
Colombia’s Defence Minister, Pedro Sanchez, described the incident as a tragic accident, stating that the aircraft crashed about 1.5 kilometres from the runway shortly after takeoff.
The aircraft involved was a Hercules C-130 military transport plane manufactured by Lockheed Martin, which was transporting soldiers to another city within Putumayo province at the time of the crash.
Authorities said ammunition being transported on the aircraft detonated after a fire broke out on board following the crash, worsening the damage and casualties.
Officials also said there was no indication the crash was caused by an attack.
The commander of the Colombian Air Force, Carlos Fernando Silva, said rescue planes were sent to evacuate the injured to hospitals in the capital, Bogota, and other locations for treatment.
Local authorities said some of the victims are yet to be identified as rescue and recovery operations continue.
The incident comes just weeks after another Hercules C-130 belonging to the Bolivian Air Force crashed in El Alto, killing more than 20 people and injuring several others.
