The death toll in Colombia's devastating air accident has risen to at least 69, with the government pointing to a 'junk' aircraft donated by the United States as the primary cause.
The C-130 Hercules plane, manufactured in 1983, crashed near the runway in Puerto Leguizamo, Amazonia, on Monday, injuring 57 soldiers and residents who rushed to the scene.
President Gustavo Petro has blamed his predecessor Ivan Duque for accepting the 43-year-old plane, which he claims was more expensive to maintain than buying a new one.
Duque has hit back, accusing Petro of being 'vile and unintelligent' and calling for a thorough investigation into the crash.
The Defense Ministry has ruled out an attack by guerrilla groups, while the local governor has highlighted the need for investment in the airport.
Images of residents forming human chains to help rescue efforts have gone viral on social media, with the bodies of the victims set to be transferred to Bogota for forensic investigations.
