New Delhi, March 23 -- Colombia's defence ministry on Monday (local time) said that a Hercules C-130 plane, a Lockheed Martin aircraft, was involved in an accident in the south of the country, BluRadio, a local outlet, reported, adding that 110 soldiers were on board.

According to the preliminary report from the authorities, at least 20 uniformed officers have been rescued alive.

Perdo Sanchez, the defence minister, said the tragedy occurred as the plane was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, deep in the country's southern Amazon region on the border with ​Peru, as it transported troops.

He added that the cause of the crash and the exact number of victims have not yet been determined. BluRadio cited officials who said that 110 sol...