At least 20 people have been confirmed dead and dozens more injured after a Bolivian military cargo plane crashed while attempting to land in the high-altitude city of El Alto on Friday evening, authorities said. The aircraft, a C-130 Hercules operated by the Bolivian Air Force, had been transporting banknotes from the eastern city of Santa Cruz to the capital region when the accident occurred.
Aviation officials reported that the plane went down at approximately 6:15pm local time as it approached El Alto International Airport. Witnesses described a terrifying scene as the aircraft appeared to lose control on landing, skidding off the runway before crashing into vehicles along a busy road near the airport perimeter. The impact caused a chain of destruction, damaging several cars and sending debris across the area.
Initial reports from firefighters placed the death toll at 15, but officials later confirmed that the number had risen to at least 20 as more victims succumbed to their injuries. Bolivia’s defence ministry said eight crew members were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash. However, most of the casualties were people on the ground, including motorists who were caught in traffic near the airport.
The country’s health ministry said at least 31 people sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals. Medical facilities in the region quickly became overwhelmed, prompting authorities to issue an urgent appeal for blood donations to assist victims receiving treatment.
Scenes following the crash were chaotic as crowds gathered around the wreckage. Police were forced to fire tear gas to disperse people who attempted to collect scattered banknotes from the crash site. Bolivia’s Central Bank later clarified that the money being transported had not yet entered circulation and therefore had no legal value, warning that anyone attempting to use it would be committing a crime.
Journalists covering the incident also faced hostility. Several media crews reported being attacked with stones by looters while documenting the aftermath, leaving some reporters injured. Bolivia’s National Association of Journalists condemned the attacks and called for better protection for members of the press.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the crash, with early witness accounts suggesting severe weather conditions, including hailstorms and lightning, may have contributed to the disaster.See_More…