Four soldiers were killed Sunday night in a helicopter crash in Colombia, President Gustavo Petro said.
“I regret to announce that there are no survivors in the plane crash that occurred in Quibdó”, in the department of Chocó (northwest), wrote the president on Twitter.
“I accompany the families (…) in this painful moment. We will not leave them alone”, added Mr. Petro, who ordered the opening of an investigation into the causes of the accident for the time unknown.
Videos posted on social networks show the helicopter spinning in the air before crashing in the middle of the vegetation.
The soldiers were on their way to “bring food” to other soldiers in the area, where illegal armed groups have a strong presence, Colonel Hector Candelario told reporters.
The helicopter was “totally charred”, said the colonel, adding that, according to witnesses, two of the soldiers jumped from the aircraft before it crashed to the ground.
