Helicopter crash on Kamchatka: bodies discovered

A crashed helicopter with numerous dead bodies has been found on the Russian peninsula of Kamchatka, famous for its volcano. So far, 17 bodies have been discovered, the Ministry of Civil Protection announced today in Moscow. The search for the remaining occupants continued on the Far Eastern peninsula. The Mi-8 aircraft, which has been missing since yesterday, was carrying 19 tourists and three crew members.

Thick fog hindered search

The helicopter had flown in the area around the Vachkashets volcano and did not arrive at the landing site in the village of Nikolayevka at the scheduled time, it was reported. Due to thick fog, the search by air could not be carried out until a day later. According to reports, the wreckage of the helicopter was discovered at an altitude of around 900 meters – not far from the place from which the last radio contact had been made. The aviation authority is looking for the accident, reported the Russian news agency TASS.

On the peninsula, 6,800 kilometers east of Moscow, helicopters are an important means of transportation, but crashes are common. The weather in the region often changes abruptly. For tourists, private companies offer helicopter trips to reserves where bears live or landings inside volcanoes on hot lakes. The peninsula is known for its great geological activity with frequent earthquakes and active volcanoes.