Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared three days of national mourning for the 22 people who died in a military cargo plane crash in the city of El Alto, the government reported on Sunday. "Our duty is to accompany, assist and respond with clarity," said the head of state. Paz also ordered the competent authorities to "provide all necessary attention to the affected families and carry out a transparent investigation to clarify what happened." He expressed his "closeness and prayers" for those who have lost a loved one and noted that Bolivia "is silent with respect" and "accompanies those who need it most." The accident occurred on Friday after 6:00 PM local time when a Hercules plane, belonging to Transportes Aéreos Bolivianos (TAB), veered off the runway of El Alto International Airport and traveled about a kilometer to the back of the terminal. The aircraft was flying from Santa Cruz. The plane was transporting a significant amount of money, and at the time of the accident, the banknotes were scattered around. According to images released by local media and social networks, several people tried to collect the money, which led firefighters to disperse them with water jets and subsequently the police to use tear gas. As of Friday, 15 deaths had been confirmed, but the Prosecutor's Office and the government announced the next day that the figure had risen to 22. Additionally, 37 people were injured and are hospitalized in different hospitals, and 15 vehicles were affected by the accident. The Bolivian Air Force (FAB) has formed an investigation commission to determine the causes and those responsible for the air disaster in El Alto, Bolivia's second most populous city.
