Weeks after their plane crashed, four Colombian children were discovered alive in the woods.
The military in Colombia saved two siblings at the border between the provinces of Caqueta and Guaviare.
On Friday, more than five weeks after the plane they were flying in crashed in the jungle, four children from an Indigenous community in Colombia were recovered alive in the country’s south, according to Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
The twins were rescued by the military not far from where their jet went down, on the border between the Colombian provinces of Caqueta and Guaviare.
The Cessna 206, carrying seven persons, reported engine trouble early on May 1. They were en way from Araracuara in Amazonas province to San Jose del Guaviare in Guaviare province.
The bodies of the plane’s three adult occupants—the pilot, Magdalena Mucutuy, and her two young children—were recovered after the crash. The 13-year-old sister, 4-year-old brother, and 12-month-old infant all made it through the crash.
Narcizo Mucutuy, the grandpa of the four children, expressed his joy to reporters upon hearing of his grandchildren’s safe return.
“At this moment I am very happy,” he remarked, “as the grandfather to my grandchildren who disappeared in the jungles of the Yari.”
The Colombian military released photos online showing a group of soldiers in the jungle with the four kids.
“Good news for the entire nation! Petro tweeted that the four missing youngsters “appeared alive” after being found in the Colombian forest.
On May 17, Petro tweeted that children had been recovered, but later withdrew the post, stating the news was unsubstantiated.
They were found together; the physicians should examine them because of their weakness. Petro told reporters on Friday, “They found them, it makes me very happy.” He went on to say that the children had defended themselves alone in the bush.
The children’s food and shelter fashioned from jungle plants were discovered by rescuers with the help of search dogs.
The rescue efforts included the use of airplanes and helicopters from the Colombian army and air force.
