Fifteen lives were lost, and more than 30 people were injured following a tragic military plane crash in El Alto, a city adjacent to Bolivia’s capital, La Paz.
Local fire service officials shared the harrowing details with media outlet Unitel, as reported by Reuters. The aircraft, a Hercules, took off from Santa Cruz but veered off the runway during its descent, careening onto a bustling street near the airport.
The mission of the flight was to transport banknotes intended for central Bolivia, as confirmed by the country’s Ministry of Defense.
Social media footage captured chaotic scenes as bystanders rushed to the crash site, with many seen gathering the scattered currency. In an effort to maintain order, local authorities employed water hoses to disperse the crowd. However, the authenticity of the videos remains unverified by Reuters.
“We are in the process of recovering the bodies of those who tragically lost their lives in this accident,” stated Pavel Tovar, head of the national fire service, according to AFP.
The Ministry of Defense has officially acknowledged the incident, which prompted a brief shutdown of El Alto airport, according to a statement from Bolivia’s national carrier, Boliviana de Aviacion.
In the wake of the crash, it is anticipated that Bolivia’s national bank will address the media later this Friday evening.
Footage from the scene reveals extensive damage to the aircraft as well as to several vehicles on the street where the incident occurred. The cause of the accident remains unclear.
La Paz, elevated at 3,650 meters and nestled within the Andes, holds the title of the world’s highest administrative capital.
