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Children die in air crash in Russia's Sakha Republic | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A transport helicopter has crashed into a hilltop in a polar region of Siberia with the loss of 19 lives, including children, the Russian authorities say. | |
The Mi-8 helicopter came down, reportedly in strong winds, 66km (41 miles) from Deputatsky in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). | |
Among the 28 people aboard were 11 children below the age of 12, three of them below the age of three. | |
It was not immediately clear how many children were killed or injured. | |
Rescuers were dispatched to the scene in two other Mi-8 helicopters while an emergencies ministry jet was reportedly sent from the far eastern city of Khabarovsk carrying both rescuers and psychologists | |
According to the service, the helicopter came down in remote, mountainous terrain, making access difficult. | |
The Interstate Aviation Committee in Moscow said it had opened an inquiry into the crash, which involved a helicopter flying with Polar Airlines, based in the city of Yakutsk. | |
'Pressed down' | |
The crash occurred at around 10:40 (23:40 GMT Monday) as the helicopter was flying from Deputatsky to another village, Kazachye. | |
"The main theory at this time is difficult weather conditions," a regional police source told Russia's Interfax news agency. | |
"The helicopter was literally pressed into the slope of the hill by strong, descending air currents." | |
Three crew members and 15 passengers were on board the helicopter, the Interstate Aviation Committee said. | |
Helicopters are frequently used for transport between towns and villages in remote parts of Siberia. |