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Five rescued from alligator-infested swamp after plane crash in Bolivia

Rescue operations hindered by adverse weather conditions
Published 04 May, 2025 01:09pm
Firefighters take a look at the wreckage of the aircraft that crashed after it went off the runway, at Muan International Airport, in Muan, South Korea, December 31, 2024. REUTERS
Firefighters take a look at the wreckage of the aircraft that crashed after it went off the runway, at Muan International Airport, in Muan, South Korea, December 31, 2024. REUTERS

Five individuals were rescued nearly two days after their plane crashed into an alligator-infested swamp in the Amazonian jungle of Bolivia.

The small aircraft, carrying the pilot, three women, and a child, went down on Wednesday, but the group was not found until Friday morning, according to the Bolivian Defense Ministry.

Miraculously, none of the passengers suffered serious injuries; they survived by rationing chocolate and cassava flour.

The plane had departed from Baures municipality, headed for Trinidad, when the pilot reported technical issues an hour after takeoff, leading to a loss of contact.

The pilot, identified as 27-year-old Pablo Andrés Velarde, managed an emergency landing near an alligator nest.

He noted that spilled fuel from the aircraft created a strong odor that kept the alligators at bay. One survivor, Mirtha Fuentes, expressed her relief, stating, “We cried with happiness because we were alive.”

Rescue operations faced challenges due to adverse weather conditions during the initial 48 hours.

The group was ultimately discovered by fishermen and airlifted to safety by Bolivia’s Air Force.

President Luis Arce praised the rescue efforts, ensuring the survivors would receive necessary medical attention.

Rescue

Plane Crash

bolivia

Amazonian Jungle

Alligator Infested