IRKUTSK, May 7 (RIA Novosti) – Rescuers have discovered fragments of a Mi-8 helicopter that crashed in East Siberia’s Irkutsk Region, the Emergencies Ministry’s regional department said Tuesday.
“Fragments of the helicopter’s body, landing gear and blades have been found,” acting regional emergencies chief Valentin Nelyubin told journalists. “We don’t have information on the remains of people.”
The Mi-8 helicopter carrying nine people and tons of explosives crashed in the Irkutsk Region on Monday, the Emergencies Ministry earlier said.
The helicopter was on a mission to monitor the flood situation in the area, and was carrying 1.9 metric tons of explosives with which to blast ice dams in the river, a regional law enforcement official told RIA Novosti.
It lost radio contact with traffic controllers earlier in the day.
Rescuers are working at the scene of the crash.
Stanislav Omelyanchik, acting head of the regional branch of the Emergencies Ministry, was one of the people on board the helicopter.