Possible new traces of children discovered in the jungle of Colombia How Donald Trump took the wind out of his biggest competitor

More than three weeks after a small plane crashed in the Colombian rainforest, there may be new clues to the four missing children. Tennis shoes, a diaper and a towel were found just over 500 meters west of the crash site in the Caquetá department, Colombian media reported Wednesday, citing the search of soldiers and indigenous peoples.

According to this data, another diaper, a mobile phone case and a milk cup lid were also discovered 420 meters northwest of the accident site in the jungle. “Judging by the condition of these items, the children were probably there between May 3 and May 8, suggesting that the four children survived the accident alive,” Colombian newspaper El Tiempo was quoted as saying by the military.

The search dubbed “Operation Hoffnung” for the four siblings, ages 13, 9 and 4 years and 11 months, intensified on Monday with satellite images and new personnel. According to “El Tiempo”, the jungle between Caquetá and Guaviare is so dense that “you can’t see more than 20 meters and you can hardly see the sun’s rays through the trees”.

The siblings crashed in the Cessna 206 propeller plane in Caquetá department on May 1. Her mother, the pilot and an indigenous leader were killed in the accident. On May 18, soldiers searching for the children found a makeshift shelter made of leaves and branches, as well as half-eaten fruit.

The children belong to an indigenous community and, according to media reports, were on their way with their mother to the capital Bogotá, where their father had fled after constant threats from armed groups. Their knowledge of the region may have helped them survive in the jungle after the crash. (oee/sda/dpa)