BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Friday that authorities had found four children alive who survived a small plane crash 40 days ago and were the subject of an intense search in the Amazon jungle that has Colombians on edge have held.
The children were alone when searchers found them and are now receiving medical attention, Petro told reporters after returning from Cuba to Bogotá, where he signed a ceasefire agreement with representatives of the National Liberation Army rebel group.
The president said the youngsters are an “example of survival” and predicted their saga “will remain in history.”
The crash occurred in the early morning hours of May 1 when the single-engine Cessna propeller plane with six passengers and one pilot declared a state of emergency due to engine failure.
The light aircraft soon disappeared from radar and a frantic search for survivors began. The three adults were killed and their bodies found in the area.