Four children missing in rainforest plane crash

In the jungle of the Caquetá department in the south of the country, footprints were discovered in the damp soil near a stream, the armed forces said on Thursday. Over 100 members of the special forces participated in the search for the children. More than two weeks ago, they were in a Cessna 206 propeller plane that crashed on May 1 on the way from Araracuara to San José del Guaviare with seven people on board.

Mother’s body found

Because the area around the crash site is difficult to access, the rescue workers were only able to penetrate to the wreck near the village of Solana on Tuesday. There they found the bodies of the children’s mother, an indigenous activist and the pilot of the machine, the aviation authority said on Thursday.

The children belong to an indigenous community and, according to media reports, had been with their mother on their way to the capital, Bogotá, where their father had fled after constant threats from armed groups. Their knowledge of the region may have helped them survive in the jungle for so long after the crash. “They are used to being in the rainforest,” her grandfather Fidencio Valencia told Caracol TV. “With the help of the people, the indigenous energy and the prayers, hopefully we can find the children soon.”

Baby bottle and half-eaten fruit

During their search, the special forces discovered, among other things, an emergency shelter made of leaves and branches, a baby drinking bottle and half-eaten fruit. The head of the family authority, Astrid Cáceres, said on the radio: “Yes, they are alive, that’s the information we have.” According to this, the children were found by an indigenous search party, but the group has not yet been able to find their way to the soldiers. “We have to understand that the jungle is complex and communication in the region is difficult,” Cáceres said.

President hastily announced rescue

“The armed forces and indigenous communities will continue their tireless search to bring the country the message it awaits,” Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote on Twitter. “Right now there is no priority other than continuing the search until they are found. The children’s lives are the most important thing.” Petro had previously prematurely announced the rescue of the children. Later he had to correct himself.

The armed forces flew a helicopter over the region in the south of the country and played a message recorded by the children’s grandmother in her indigenous language, according to video released by the armed forces on Friday.