Colombia: 4 Children Lost in Amazon Jungle for 40 Days After Plane Crash Found Alive
President Gustavo Petro announced on Friday that the four missing Colombia children, who had been missing after a plane crash in the Amazon jungle 40 days ago, have been found, AP reports.
Following signing a ceasefire agreement with the National Liberation Army rebel group in Cuba, President Petro returned to Bogota and informed the press that the children had been discovered alone and have been receiving medical attention.
President Petro referred to the children as a remarkable example of survival and emphasized that their story would be etched in history.
The incident occurred on May 1, when the pilot of a Cessna single-engine propeller plane carrying six other passengers issued an emergency call due to engine failure.
The aircraft vanished from radar shortly after, triggering an extensive search and rescue operation. Tragically, the bodies of the three adults were found nearby, having been subjected to acts of violence.
Colombia Children from Huitoto Indigenous Group have Jungle Survival Skills
Rescuers searching for the missing children from the plane crash in the Colombia Amazon jungle have found some of their belongings along a trail revealed by satellite images, per Daily Mail.
Items such as shoes, a nappy, a makeshift shelter, and a partially eaten fruit were discovered, providing hope that the children may still be alive.
Leaders from the Huitoto community are optimistic about the children's survival due to their knowledge of jungle survival techniques and familiarity with the local fruits.
The Cessna 206 plane departed from Araracuara in the early hours of May 1, destined for the Colombian Amazonian hamlet of San Jose del Guaviare.
The crash resulted in severe damage to the plane's nose, and soldiers found the remains of the three adults on board on May 16 near the vertically lodged wreckage in the dense jungle, but Lesly (13), Soleiny (9), Tien Noriel (4), and Cristin (0) were not found in there.
The urgency to rescue the children was emphasized by their grandfather, who stated, "Yes, the children have been found, but I need a flight or a helicopter to go and get them urgently."
The government has reported that the indigenous group performed traditional rituals, communing with the jungle and seeking the return of the missing children.
Colombia Children, Mother Were Travelling to Start New Life with Their Father
Magdalena Mucutuy and her children were en route to Bogotá to start a new life alongside Magdalena's husband, Manuel Ranoque, The Independent noted.
Previously residing in the Puerto Sábalo indigenous reserve, Ranoque has familial connections to a prominent local politician. The family's decision to leave their community stemmed from the alarming death threats they received from local gangs.
Fearing for their safety, Ranoque embarked on a treacherous journey on foot, eventually reaching Bogotá.
Reports suggest that Ranoque worked diligently for approximately a month and a half to accumulate sufficient funds to cover the transportation costs for his family's transition from their rural town to the bustling Colombian metropolis.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Clues suggest children survived Colombian jungle plane crash as officials race to find them - From CNN
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