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No survivors in Nepal air crash | No survivors in Nepal air crash |
(30 minutes later) | |
Officials in Nepal say all 24 people, including a group of conservationists, who were in a helicopter which crashed in eastern Nepal have been killed. | Officials in Nepal say all 24 people, including a group of conservationists, who were in a helicopter which crashed in eastern Nepal have been killed. |
A ground-based search team spotted the wreckage of the helicopter on Sunday evening after a two-day search. | A ground-based search team spotted the wreckage of the helicopter on Sunday evening after a two-day search. |
The rescuers, who were carrying medical supplies, said they could see several bodies scattered at the site. | The rescuers, who were carrying medical supplies, said they could see several bodies scattered at the site. |
The helicopter lost radio contact during bad weather after it took off in a mountainous district on Saturday. | The helicopter lost radio contact during bad weather after it took off in a mountainous district on Saturday. |
The chopper was carrying seven WWF employees - four Nepalis, an Australian, a Canadian and an American. | |
It was also carrying a Finnish diplomat, a US aid worker and two Russian crew members, as well as Nepalese officials and reporters. | It was also carrying a Finnish diplomat, a US aid worker and two Russian crew members, as well as Nepalese officials and reporters. |
Bad weather | Bad weather |
Reports have quoted local people as saying they heard a loud bang shortly after the helicopter, chartered by the WWF, took off. | Reports have quoted local people as saying they heard a loud bang shortly after the helicopter, chartered by the WWF, took off. |
Air traffic officials in the capital, Kathmandu, said the rescuers spotted the wreckage at a site two kilometres (1.2 miles) from where the helicopter took off before disappearing. | Air traffic officials in the capital, Kathmandu, said the rescuers spotted the wreckage at a site two kilometres (1.2 miles) from where the helicopter took off before disappearing. |
Reports say the area is about 400km east of Kathmandu. | Reports say the area is about 400km east of Kathmandu. |
Those at the site say the aircraft broke up on crashing into a mountain and the bodies were scattered widely near a ravine. They say it is difficult to identify them. | Those at the site say the aircraft broke up on crashing into a mountain and the bodies were scattered widely near a ravine. They say it is difficult to identify them. |
A temporary helipad has been built at the scene and four helicopters are waiting at a nearby airstrip to recover the bodies. | A temporary helipad has been built at the scene and four helicopters are waiting at a nearby airstrip to recover the bodies. |
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says incessant rain and cloud in this forested area mean this will not be possible before Tuesday. | The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says incessant rain and cloud in this forested area mean this will not be possible before Tuesday. |
Rain and low visibility had hampered efforts to find the helicopter, missing since noon local time (0615 GMT) on Saturday. | Rain and low visibility had hampered efforts to find the helicopter, missing since noon local time (0615 GMT) on Saturday. |
The helicopter party was returning from a landmark ceremony to hand over the Kanchenjunga conservation area from the government to the local community. | The helicopter party was returning from a landmark ceremony to hand over the Kanchenjunga conservation area from the government to the local community. |
The helicopter, identified as a Russian-made Mi-172, had been on a 20-minute flight to a local airport, where the passengers had been due to take a flight to Kathmandu. | The helicopter, identified as a Russian-made Mi-172, had been on a 20-minute flight to a local airport, where the passengers had been due to take a flight to Kathmandu. |