Colombia Military Plane Crash Near Peru Border Kills 66, Leaves 4 Missing

A Colombian military C-130 Hercules plane crashed near the Peru border during takeoff on Monday, killing 66 of the 128 people on board and leaving four missing.

The aircraft carried 11 air force members, 115 army soldiers and two police officers. It encountered problems at the end of the runway, with one wing striking a tree, leading to a rapid crash, fire and detonation of explosives onboard, according to reports.

Local residents in the remote area were first to respond, transporting injured people to safety using motorcycles and other basic means. Military rescuers later arrived, but difficult access to the site slowed operations. In total, 57 survivors were taken to hospitals, with 30 of them not in critical condition.

President Gustavo Petro stated that delays in modernizing the army endanger the lives of young soldiers.

The C-130 Hercules, in service since the 1950s, has been vital for troop transport during Colombia's decades-long internal conflicts, which have claimed more than 450,000 lives.