Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Rescue specialists yesterday reached a helicopter that crashed in the southeastern Andes, and there were no survivors among the 14 people on aboard, including eight South Koreans and three Europeans, Peruvian police said.
A police commander who went to the crash site, Raul Aybar, told The Associated Press that the aircraft "crashed into the snowy Mama Rosa and exploded."
"Everyone died in the initial impact because everything is burned and scattered," Aybar said after returning to the nearest city, Ocongate.
Another member of the police rescue team, Brig. Roberto Larrea, also told the AP that no one survived.
Aybar said operations at the crash site had been suspended until Sunday because of bad weather and darkness. He said temperatures had dropped to minus-15 Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit).
Peru's police chief, Gen. Raul Salazar, told the Radioprogramas radio station earlier that searchers found "some parts of the helicopter that have been scattered up to 200 meters (yards) by the force of impact."
Authorities said the crashed Sikorsky S-58ET was found at an attitude of roughly 16,000 feet (4,900 meters).
Police said a Dutchman, a Czech, a Swede, eight Koreans and three Peruvians, including the pilot and co-pilot, were on the helicopter.
The South Korean Embassy in Lima said its nationals were exploring a potential hydroelectric project near Mazuco.
South Korea's foreign ministry said three of the Koreans worked for Samsung C&T and one was an employee for the state-run Korea Water Resources Corp. It said the four other victims worked for two engineering companies.
Korea Water said in a statement on its website that its vice president left to go to Peru on Friday. Samsung C&T said it sent a team of officials to Lima on Friday.
AP
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments