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Crash kills Chile's police chief Crash kills Chile's police chief
(39 minutes later)
Chile's national police chief has been killed along with 10 other people in a helicopter crash while visiting Panama City for a conference.Chile's national police chief has been killed along with 10 other people in a helicopter crash while visiting Panama City for a conference.
Gen Jose Alejandro Bernales, three Chilean police officials, two spouses and five Panamanians all died when the aircraft hit a warehouse.Gen Jose Alejandro Bernales, three Chilean police officials, two spouses and five Panamanians all died when the aircraft hit a warehouse.
A 12th person aboard the helicopter survived the crash.A 12th person aboard the helicopter survived the crash.
Chile decreed three days of national mourning and President Michelle Bachelet cut short a regional visit.Chile decreed three days of national mourning and President Michelle Bachelet cut short a regional visit.
The cause of the crash is not yet known.The cause of the crash is not yet known.
Eyewitnesses told local media that the helicopter had pitched wildly before plunging and starting a fire in the building it hit.Eyewitnesses told local media that the helicopter had pitched wildly before plunging and starting a fire in the building it hit.
'Great police director''Great police director'
The Chilean dead were named as Gen Bernales and his wife Teresa Bianchini, police commander Oscar Tapia and his wife Carolina Reyes, police commander Ricardo Orozco and police Capt Mauricio Fuenzalida.The Chilean dead were named as Gen Bernales and his wife Teresa Bianchini, police commander Oscar Tapia and his wife Carolina Reyes, police commander Ricardo Orozco and police Capt Mauricio Fuenzalida.
Gen Bernales had headed the Chilean police since 2005 Advertisement
Eyewitnesses told local media that the helicopter had pitched wildly before plunging into the buiding.
Panamanian Interior Minister Daniel Delgado confirmed that five Panamanians had also died in the crash.Panamanian Interior Minister Daniel Delgado confirmed that five Panamanians had also died in the crash.
According to one report, there were three crew members aboard the helicopter.According to one report, there were three crew members aboard the helicopter.
The sole survivor was a Panamanian policeman, who was in hospital in a stable condition, Mr Delgado added.The sole survivor was a Panamanian policeman, who was in hospital in a stable condition, Mr Delgado added.
On hearing of the accident, President Bachelet rushed back to the Chilean capital Santiago from the north of the country.On hearing of the accident, President Bachelet rushed back to the Chilean capital Santiago from the north of the country.
She described Gen Bernales, police chief since 2005, as a "great, great police director, an important support for the government on order and security matters".She described Gen Bernales, police chief since 2005, as a "great, great police director, an important support for the government on order and security matters".