A military transport aircraft belonging to the Colombian Air Force has crashed near the Peru border in the country’s southern region, with authorities yet to confirm the number of fatalities.

According to official statements cited by international agencies, the Hercules-type aircraft went down during takeoff in the municipality of Puerto Leguízamo, located in the Putumayo department.

Colombia’s Defense Minister, Pedro Sánchez, stated that the exact number of casualties remains undetermined, urging the public to avoid speculation as search and rescue operations continue.

Preliminary official data indicate that approximately 125 people were on board, including 114 soldiers and 11 crew members.

Authorities confirmed that at least 48 individuals were rescued with injuries and transferred to nearby medical facilities. The condition of other passengers has not yet been fully established.

While some media outlets have reported high death toll estimates, no official figure has been released by Colombian authorities so far.

An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash, as military and emergency teams continue operations at the scene.

Further updates are expected as officials verify the situation on the ground. (ILKHA)