Colombian authorities said on Monday that the four children, who have been missing in the Amazon jungle for nearly a month, are “alive” after the plane crash that killed their mother and two other adults. be.
The Cessna 206 carrying the three children aged 4, 9 and 13 and an 11-month-old baby disappeared from radar on May 1 near San José del Guaviare in the department of Caqueta (south). He was found on May 15 amidst dense vegetation with his nose crushed to the ground.
The extensive search resources used made it possible to quickly find several “evidences of life”, including footprints, chewed fruit or a temporary shelter. On Tuesday, nearly 200 mobilized men, including soldiers and local indigenous people, discovered a pair of sneakers and a diaper.
“Based on the evidence, we conclude that the children are alive. If they were dead, it would certainly be easy to find them because they would be immobile,” and the sniffer dogs sent to look for them “would guide us,” Gen. Pedro Sanchez told W radio.
The search for the wreckage of the plane covers an area of about 323 square kilometers, three times the area of Paris.
The general admits he finds it “strange” that the children “don’t stop even though more than 10,000 leaflets and survival kits have been dropped” containing food and water and telling them what to do.
Mr. Sanchez estimated his units were within 100 yards of the children, but the rain, vegetation and swampy terrain are making the search difficult.
According to the children’s grandfather, the eldest of the siblings, from an indigenous Uitoto community, is “strong” and “intelligent” and has managed to escort her “jungle-accustomed” brothers and sisters to safety.
On May 17, President Gustavo Petro announced that the children had been found alive by sharing unconfirmed information and was forced to withdraw the next day.