At least 15 people were killed and dozens injured after a Bolivian air force cargo plane carrying banknotes crashed while landing in the western city of El Alto on Friday evening, authorities said.
The aircraft skidded off the runway at El Alto International Airport around 6:15 pm local time after arriving from Santa Cruz and struck nearby vehicles, aviation officials said. The defence ministry later confirmed that a C-130 Hercules of the air force was involved and that it was transporting banknotes to the central bank.
Air force commander Sergio Lora said there were eight people on board, including flight crew and cargo personnel.
Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds who attempted to seize banknotes scattered at the crash site, triggering clashes near the airport. Video footage showed damaged vehicles, people fleeing tear gas and police officers forming a cordon as some individuals threw stones.
The National Association of Journalists of Bolivia said reporters covering the incident were attacked while on duty. In a statement, it said a mobile television unit was directly targeted and several journalists were injured after being hit by stones.
State-run media reported that at least a dozen people were arrested on suspicion of stealing banknotes from the scene.
Defence Minister Marcelo Salinas warned that the money being transported had no legal value as it had not been issued by the Central Bank and lacked serial numbers, adding that attempting to use it would constitute a crime. He also urged the public to refrain from vandalism and respect the period of mourning.
Bolivia’s health ministry said 31 people were injured and issued an urgent appeal for blood donations. El Alto International Airport was temporarily closed following the crash.
Witnesses told news agencies that severe weather conditions, including heavy hail and lightning, were present at the time of the incident. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and an investigation is under way.
The crash occurred in El Alto, one of the highest-altitude cities in the world, located near the capital La Paz in Bolivia.
With inputs from BBC