A Colombian military transport aircraft carrying troops and crew members crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday, leaving at least 66 people dead and several others injured, authorities have confirmed.

The C-130 Hercules aircraft went down moments after departing from Puerto Leguízamo, near Colombia’s southern border with Ecuador and Peru, scattering burning debris across a jungle area.

A military source said that the death toll included 58 soldiers, six air force personnel, and two police officers, while dozens of others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Earlier, the secretary of the local government, Carlos Claros, had put the casualty figure at 33, adding that emergency teams were working to evacuate survivors and provide medical assistance to the injured.

He said investigations had already begun to determine the cause of the crash.

The remote border region has seen heightened military activity in recent weeks, as Colombian and Ecuadorian forces intensify operations against drug trafficking groups and armed militias.

Images from the crash site showed wreckage of the aircraft, identified as FAC 1016, with smoke and flames rising above the surrounding forest while civilians gathered near the tail section.

Colombia’s Defence Minister, Pedro Sánchez, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as a national tragedy and noting that it was still too early to establish the cause of the crash.

Military chief General Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda said a total of 114 soldiers and 11 crew members were on board the flight, which was heading from Puerto Leguízamo to a nearby Amazon outpost.

Authorities also highlighted logistical challenges in the evacuation process due to the difficult terrain and limited airport infrastructure in the area.

Governor of Putumayo, Jhon Gabriel Molina, said in a social media update that access to the crash site was severely constrained, slowing rescue and recovery operations.