Wahala don happen for Colombia as military plane crash kill at least 66 people. The plane wey be C-130 Hercules transport aircraft crash for southern Amazon region of the country on Monday. According to reports, the plane carry 125 people when e crash shortly after takeoff from Puerto Leguizamo.
The crash na one of the worst military aviation accidents wey happen for recent times. Early reports show say 34 people die, but Colombian military later update the number to 66 fatalities. Many people still dey missing and injured as rescue operation dey continue for the area.
Luis Emilio Bustos, who be mayor of Puerto Leguizamo, first talk say 34 people die. But as time dey go, the number increase. Jhon Gabriel Molina, governor of Putumayo department, also talk say about 70 people get injury and 21 people no dey accounted for. Him warn say the numbers fit change as rescue work dey go on.
Videos wey dey circulate for social media show wreckage still dey burn, and this one make am hard for rescue teams to reach the area. The plane crash just 1.5 kilometres after e take off from Puerto Leguizamo. Preliminary reports suggest say the plane hit ground near the end of runway during takeoff.
One firefighter wey talk to local media say the aircraft hit tree with one of its wings as e dey crash down. The situation become worse because the plane dey carry ammunition and explosives wey detonate upon impact. These secondary explosions create more danger for rescue teams and delay immediate access to the wreckage.
Local people rush to the site to help survivors, and military units later come join. But authorities talk say the remote and difficult terrain of the crash site slow down rescue operations seriously. The area na part of Colombia Amazon region wey get thick forest and hard-to-reach places.
The aircraft wey crash na Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, one military transport plane wey many countries dey use since 1950s. Colombia get their first C-130 aircraft for late 1960s. These planes dey commonly used by Colombian military to transport troops and equipment, especially for operations related to the country internal conflict wey don last over six decades.
This crash no be the first incident involving C-130 aircraft for recent times. For end of February, Bolivian Air Force C-130 crash for El Alto, kill more than 20 people and injure about 30 others. The similarity between the two accidents make aviation experts to look into possible safety concerns.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro talk say the nation dey mourn the loss of life and promise full investigation into the crash. International aviation authorities don offer to assist with the investigation. The crash happen as Colombia dey face security challenges for different parts of the country.
Family members of those wey die and survivors dey gather for military bases and hospitals as they wait for more information. The Colombian government announce three days of national mourning and promise support for affected families. The incident remind people of the risks wey military personnel dey face during their duties.
As rescue operations continue, authorities dey work to identify all victims and account for those wey still dey missing. The difficult terrain and ongoing fire for the crash site make the work hard, but rescue teams dey determined to find any possible survivors. The international community don send condolences to Colombia for this tragic event.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
