'Magical day': Four children found alive in Amazon jungle after 40 days of Colombia plane crash

After weeks of the Colombia plane crash, four children have been found alive in the Amazon jungle. The children survived the plane crash and spent almost 40 days fending for themselves.

The siblings who were found alive are aged 13, nine, four and one. The Colombian president has said that the rescue of these children is "a joy for the whole country".

On May 1, the mother of the children and two pilots were killed when their light aircraft crashed in the jungle.

The missing children became the focus of a massive search and rescue operation involving dozens of soldiers and locals.

President Gustavo Petro described the group's finding as a "magical day," adding, "They were alone, they achieved an example of total survival that will remain in history."

"These children are today the children of peace and the children of Colombia," he said.

Petro also shared a photo of many military and Indigenous community members caring for the siblings, who had been missing for 40 days. One of the rescuers held a bottle to the smallest child's mouth, while another spoon-fed one of the other kids from a mug.

The children were airlifted in the dark over the tall trees of the jungle, according to a video posted by Colombia's Ministry of Defence.

He further informed that the siblings have been receiving medical attention and that he had spoken to their grandfather.

Colombia plane crash

The Cessna 206 plane carrying the children and their mother was travelling from Araracuara, in Amazonas province, to San José del Guaviare when it issued a mayday alert due to engine failure.

The soldiers discovered the bodies of the three adults at the accident site, but it appeared that the children had escaped the wreckage and ventured into the rainforest in search of help.