A cargo aircraft transporting newly printed Bolivian forex crashed Friday close to Bolivia’s capital, damaging round a dozen automobiles on a close-by freeway, scattering payments throughout the bottom, and killing at the very least 15 folks whereas injuring others.
Crash Particulars
Protection Minister Marcelo Salinas reported that the Hercules C-130 plane, operated by the Bolivian Air Pressure, veered off the runway at El Alto airport—adjoining to La Paz—earlier than coming to relaxation in a close-by area. The aircraft had flown from the japanese metropolis of Santa Cruz en path to La Paz.
Firefighters rapidly extinguished the flames engulfing the plane. Bolivian Air Pressure Gen. Sergio Lora acknowledged that two of the six crew members remained unaccounted for as of late Friday.
Casualties and Harm
Hearth Chief Pavel Tovar confirmed at the very least 15 fatalities, although he didn’t specify whether or not the victims had been aboard the aircraft or within the automobiles on the freeway. Tovar additionally famous that at the very least 15 automobiles sustained injury.
Social media footage captured particles from the aircraft, wrecked vehicles, and our bodies alongside the highway, highlighting the crash’s devastating affect.
Public Response and Safety Response
Crowds rushed to seize the scattered payments on the web site, prompting police in riot gear to intervene. Tovar indicated that lots of of individuals amassing the cash impeded rescue operations.
Authorities deployed over 500 troopers and 100 law enforcement officials to safe the world and disperse the gang. In a managed measure, police and navy personnel burned the money bins beneath the supervision of Central Financial institution President David Espinoza. Espinoza defined that the payments “don’t have any authorized worth as a result of they by no means entered circulation.” He added that the banknotes had arrived in Santa Cruz from overseas however didn’t disclose the entire quantity.
Ongoing Investigation and Disruptions
Salinas introduced that investigators are probing the reason for the incident. All flights to and from the El Alto terminal have been briefly suspended.
