Bolivia Military Plane Crash Death Toll Rises to 22 in Cash Transport Disaster
A devastating military plane crash near Bolivia's capital has claimed the lives of 22 people, with authorities confirming the death toll rose on Saturday. The aircraft, a Hercules C-130 belonging to the Bolivian air force, was transporting 18 tons of newly printed banknotes when it crashed a day earlier, scattering currency across the crash site and damaging numerous vehicles.
Casualties and Recovery Efforts
Police Commander Mirko Sokol provided the updated casualty figures, revealing that among the deceased are 12 men, including one crew member, six women, and four children. Another 29 individuals sustained injuries, with most being passengers on public transportation vehicles that were struck when the plane crashed. Forensic investigators continued the grim task of recovering remains from the wreckage throughout Saturday, while the injured were transported to medical clinics in El Alto, the city adjacent to La Paz where the airport is located.
Crash Details and Immediate Aftermath
Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas explained that the aircraft had been transporting newly printed Bolivian currency from Santa Cruz in eastern Bolivia when it experienced catastrophic problems during landing. The plane "landed and veered off the runway" at El Alto International Airport before coming to rest in a nearby field. Firefighters worked diligently to extinguish the flames that engulfed the aircraft following the impact.
Social media images captured the chaotic scene, showing:
- Aircraft debris scattered across the area
- Destroyed vehicles along the road
- Bodies lying near the crash site
Fire Chief Pavel Tovar reported that at least 15 vehicles sustained damage in the incident.
Currency Scramble and Official Response
The crash created an unusual secondary crisis as the transport of new banknotes resulted in currency being scattered across the crash site. Official reports indicated that people rushed to collect the bills, prompting a significant security response. More than 500 soldiers and 100 police officers were deployed to disperse those attempting to gather the money.
To prevent further looting, authorities took the extraordinary step of burning the cash boxes in the presence of Central Bank President David Espinoza. Espinoza clarified that the banknotes "have no legal value because they never entered circulation," though he did not specify the exact amount of money being transported. He noted that the banknotes had arrived in Santa Cruz from abroad before being loaded onto the ill-fated flight.
The Bolivian government has launched a full investigation into the causes of the crash, which represents one of the country's most significant aviation disasters in recent years. The combination of military transport, civilian casualties, and the unusual cargo of new currency has created a complex incident with multiple dimensions for authorities to address in the coming days and weeks.
