03.07 Rescuers Still Unable to Reach Downed Russian Helicopter
MOSCOW, July 3 (RIA Novosti) A seriously injured female passenger who initially survived a helicopter accident Tuesday in northeastern Russia was reported dead a day later as rescue teams struggled to reach the remote crash site in foggy conditions.
The Mi-8 helicopter was carrying 28 people, including 11 children, when it came down in the Siberian republic of Yakutia at 10:40 a.m. local time Tuesday.
The Interstate Aviation Committee, which investigates air accidents in Russia, initially said 19 people were killed, but this remained unconfirmed by the Emergencies Ministry, whose rescue teams have yet to reach the site.
There is a version of events that says that out of the 28 people [on the helicopter], three crew members, one woman and a two year-old girl survived Tuesday. There is information that a badly wounded woman could have died. The condition of one of the crew members is very serious, said a regional government source who requested anonymity.
Despite a large search operation involving nine aircraft and almost 400 people, the wreckage of the helicopter and the survivors had apparently not been located over 30 hours after the crash.
We are not confirming that the helicopter has been found, an Emergencies Ministry spokesman said Wednesday morning.
