REVISED: Death Toll Rises to 66 or More Following Fatal Crash of Colombian Military Aircraft

Early Monday, a Colombian military plane crashed on takeoff, claiming the lives of at least 66 people and injuring dozens more, according to officials, with 125 soldiers and crew members on board.

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The C-130 Hercules aircraft, which went down near the southern border with Ecuador and Peru, scattered burning wreckage across the jungle floor shortly after departing from Puerto Leguizamo.

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A military source revealed to AFP that the crash resulted in the deaths of 58 soldiers, six air force personnel, and two police officers, providing an updated toll on the tragedy.

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Initially, local government secretary Carlos Claros reported to RCN television that 33 people had lost their lives, while also stating that efforts were underway to treat and evacuate the injured, and that investigators were working to determine the cause of the crash.

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The border area where the plane crashed has recently been a hub of heavy military activity, with the Colombian and Ecuadoran militaries collaborating to combat drug-running cartels and militias.

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AFP images from the scene showed civilians gathering around the broken tail of the aircraft, marked FAC 1016, as smoke and flames billowed above the trees, capturing the aftermath of the disaster.

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Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating that it was too early to determine the cause of the crash, and offered his condolences, saying "it is a deeply painful event for the country."

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Sanchez added, "May our prayers bring some measure of comfort," as the country mourned the loss of life in the tragic incident.

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General Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda reported that 114 troops and 11 crew members were on board the plane, which was travelling from Puerto Leguizamo to an Amazon outpost nearby.

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Jhon Gabriel Molina, governor of the Putamayo region, noted that the evacuation of bodies and the injured was hindered by the small size of the airport and other difficulties, in a Facebook video.

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Locals in the area recounted hearing a loud bang, with farmer Noe Mota describing the moment he witnessed the plane flying close to his house before it crashed.

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Colombia's President Gustavo Petro shared footage of the aircraft attempting to gain altitude before plummeting down, and described the crash as a "horrific accident" on X.

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Petro emphasized the need to modernise Colombia's military hardware, although he did not directly link the crash to the plane's condition, sparking a call for action in the wake of the tragedy.

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The crash is the second incident involving a C-130 Hercules in South America in under a month, following a Bolivian military cargo plane crash near La Paz on February 27, which resulted in at least 24 fatalities.

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The C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop built by Lockheed Martin, is renowned for its ability to operate from makeshift airstrips and is widely used by militaries worldwide.