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South Korea: Helicopter crashes with seven on board

November 1, 2019

A South Korean rescue helicopter has crashed with seven people on board. The cause of the accident is not yet known.

https://p.dw.com/p/3SJxS
South Korea Helicopter crash near Dokdo
This photo, provided by the National Fire Agency, shows fire authorities engaging in a rescue operationImage: picture-alliance/Yonhap

Rescue efforts were underway on Friday after a South Korean ambulance helicopter with seven people on board crashed into the sea off the country's east coast.

Seong Ho-seon, who is part of the team looking for survivors, said that the helicopter was responding to an emergency call out for an injured crab fisherman when it crashed at approximately 11:30 p.m. Thursday. It had the wounded patient on board and was en route to a hospital in Daegu on the mainland when tragedy struck.

Dokdo map
Map showing Dokdo, where the helicopter took off fromImage: DW

Read more: Japan and South Korea seek to mend relations

"We presume that the helicopter crashed into sea within two minutes after liftoff," Seong said as part of a televised briefing.

South Korea helicopter crash
Interior Minister Chin Young chairs a meeting with related government officials via teleconference at the government complex in Seoul. He was reacting to the helicopter crash in the East SeaImage: picture-alliance/Yonhap

The accident took place near the South Korea-controlled islets of Dokdo.

Numerous airplanes have been deployed, as well as 30 divers, but until now, no survivors have been found.

jsi/aw (AP, Reuters)

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