President Gustavo Petro says the children were alone when searchers found them Friday and are now receiving medical attention.
BOGOTA, Colombia — Four Indigenous children survived an Amazon plane crash that killed three adults and then braved the jungle for 40 days before being found alive by Colombian soldiers, bringing a happy ending to a search-and-rescue saga that captivated a nation and forced the usually opposing military and Indigenous people to work together.
The Cessna single-engine propeller plane was carrying three adults and the four children when the pilot declared an emergency due to an engine failure. The small aircraft fell off the radar a short time later and a search for survivors began. Gen. Pedro Sanchez, who was in charge of the rescue efforts, said that the children were found 5 kilometers away from the crash site in a small forest clearing. He said rescue teams had passed within 20 to 50 meters of where the children were found on a couple of occasions but had missed them.
Sensing that they could be alive, Colombia’s army stepped up the hunt and flew 150 soldiers with dogs into the area, where mist and thick foliage greatly limited visibility. Dozens of volunteers from Indigenous tribes also joined the search. Damaris Mucutuy, an aunt of the children, told a radio station that “the children are fine” despite being dehydrated and with insect bites. She added that the children had been offered mental health services.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
4 Indigenous kids lost in jungle after plane crash found aliveFour Indigenous children who disappeared 40 days ago after a plane crash in the Amazon jungle were found alive Friday in Colombia, ending an intense search that gripped the nation.
Read more »
4 kids lost in the jungle for 40 days after a plane crash found alive in ColombiaColombian President Gustavo Petro said Friday that authorities found alive four children who survived a small plane crash 40 days ago.
Read more »
4 children lost in the Amazon jungle since May after a plane crash are found alive in ColombiaFour Indigenous children who disappeared 40 days ago after surviving a small plane crash in the Amazon jungle were found alive, Colombian authorities announced Friday.
Read more »
Some Philadelphia graduation ceremonies forced to move indoors due to air quality concernsFriday was graduation day for Lincoln High School's class of 2023 on Friday.
Read more »
Missing children found after more than month in Amazon | CNNFour young children have been found alive after more than a month wandering the Colombian Amazon, according to Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro.
Read more »
Missing children found after more than a month in Amazon | CNNJUST IN: Four children who disappeared in the Amazon jungle after their plane crashed on May 1 have been found alive, Colombia's president says
Read more »