Uncategorized
Colombian president backtracks claim four kids found alive in jungle after plane crash
The fate of four children who have been missing for two weeks after their plane crashed in remote Colombia remains unclear after the country's president backtracked on reports they had been found alive.
Rescuers have been searching for the remnant of the Cessna plane since it crashed on May 1 in the country's southern region of Guaviare in the Amazonas province.
On Wednesday, President Gustavo Petro tweeted that the Colombian Armed Forces had found the four children, aged between 11 months old and 13 alive, but his post was deleted on Thursday, prompting much speculation in local media.
READ MORE: Elderly woman, 95, tasered after wielding knife in NSW
"I have decided to delete the tweet because it hasn't been possible to confirm the information provided by the [child welfare agency]," he said.
"I'm sorry it happened," he said.
Petro said searches for the children were continuing.
What would be an extraordinary survival story is yet to be fully confirmed, with government officials battling poor communications and yet to make direct contact with the children.
The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement earlier that they found a "shelter built in an improvised way with sticks and leaves."
READ MORE: The 'bad cousin' of endometriosis that impacts even more women
While the children were said to be found alive, Aerocivil said they found another three adult bodies inside the small aircraft.
Their remains were removed from the scene of the plane crash by the Colombian military.
The nation's armed forces launched a massive search operation, supported by dog units, local indigenous communities, planes and helicopters, which flew over the region broadcasting a message recorded by the childrens' grandmother.
The charter company whose aircraft crashed told CNN they are still waiting to contact the children, reiterating they have not received proof of their arrival.
READ MORE: Children 'stable' after 'horrific' bus crash
Giselle Lopez, co-owner of Avianline Charters SAS said the search area is subject to extreme weather.
"We just pray (to) god that in a few hours we all have the news we are waiting for, and see these kids: you must understand, the storms there are really strong, sometimes we lose radio contact for over an hour due to the electrical storms, and with these rains the navigation over the river is difficult, there are debris and strong currents on that river," Lopez said.
No photos or videos have yet emerged showing the children,
Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.
