The death toll from the crash of a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft in Colombia's Putumayo department has reached 66, Caracol reports. Previously, 48 deaths had been reported.

According to updated data, a total of 128 military personnel were on board the C-130 Hercules, and 77 people were hospitalized.

58 of the dead were soldiers of the National Army, six were personnel of the Colombian Aerospace Forces, and two were National Police officers.

Commander of the Colombian Aerospace Forces General Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda previously confirmed that the aircraft was transporting military personnel. He noted that thanks to the National Navy base located in Puerto Leguízamo, units were able to quickly arrive at the scene and begin search and rescue operations.

"We sent a Colombian Air Force medical aircraft with capacity for 50 stretchers for mass transportation of the wounded, to be followed by an aircraft with 24 stretchers," the Aerospace Forces commander said.