Missing children found in the Amazon weeks after plane crash

Four children who survived a plane crash May 1 were found alive after they spent more than a month wandering the Amazon jungle, Colombia’s president annonced Friday.

“A joy for the whole country! The four children who were lost 40 days ago in the Colombian jungle were found alive,” tweeted President Gustavo Petro.

He included an image that appears to show rescuers administering the children aid in a forest clearing.

The young survivors, who appeared gaunt in the images released by the Colombian government, were being evaluated by doctors Friday.

The children included Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 13; Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 9; Tien Ranoque Mucutuy, 4, and infant Cristin Ranoque Mucutuy.

They are believed to be the only survivors from the plane crash that left them stranded in the jungle on May 1.

Their mother, Magdalena Mucutuy Valencia, died in the crash along with the pilot, Hernando Murcia Morales and Herman Mendoza Hernández, a Yarupari indigenous leader.

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After discovering the crash site, the Colombian government launched a large military search operation.

Over a hundred troops from the Colombian special forces and over 70 indigenous scouts scoured the area.

In the past weeks, search efforts had found clues including footprints, a soiled diaper and a bottle.

Family members reported the oldest child had some experience traversing the forest, but hopes for their recovery were fading as the search continued.

“We never stopped looking for them until the miracle came,” tweeted the Colombian Defense Ministry.

“These are the children of peace and the children of Colombia,” Petro said during a press conference Friday evening.

With News Wire Services