A tragic crash involving a military plane carrying a load of banknotes has left at least 11 people dead in Bolivia's western city of El Alto. The incident, which occurred at 18:20 local time (22:20 GMT) on Friday, involved a C-130 Hercules aircraft traveling from Santa Cruz to El Alto International Airport. The plane skidded off the runway and collided with vehicles on a nearby motorway, causing significant damage and casualties. The defense ministry confirmed the plane was transporting banknotes to the Central Bank of Bolivia, emphasizing that these banknotes had no purchasing power and their possession or use would be considered a crime. The ministry urged the public to stay away and allow authorities to conduct their investigation and cleanup operations. Media reports indicate that some individuals attempted to access the crash site to retrieve the banknotes, despite the ministry's warnings. The aftermath of the crash was captured on video, showing the damaged plane and vehicles. One relative shared a harrowing account with the Reuters news agency, describing how their sister was injured when the plane's tire fell on their car, causing head trauma. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the exact cause and circumstances surrounding the incident.
