A military transport aircraft carrying soldiers crashed shortly after takeoff in southern Colombia, resulting in a high number of casualties.

The aircraft, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules operated by the Colombian Air Force, was transporting more than 120 people, including military personnel and crew members. The crash occurred near Puerto Leguízamo, in the Putumayo region, close to the border with Peru.

According to official reports, at least 69 people were killed in the दुर्घटना, while dozens of others were injured. Emergency teams responded to the scene and carried out rescue operations, managing to evacuate survivors to nearby medical facilities.

The aircraft went down just minutes after takeoff and crashed into a jungle area, where it was severely damaged and caught fire. The difficult terrain complicated rescue efforts, with local residents initially assisting in evacuating the injured.

Authorities have stated that there is no indication the crash was caused by an attack. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether mechanical failure, maintenance issues, or human factors may have contributed to the incident.

The tragedy has prompted national mourning and renewed scrutiny over the condition and modernization of Colombia’s military aircraft fleet.