- Title: RUSSIA: Ten die as helicopter hit by avalanche
- Date: 11th April 2010
- Summary: AVACHINSKY AIRPORT, KAMCHATKA (APRIL 10, 2010) (REUTERS) AIRPORT BUILDING, EMERGENCY WORKERS WAITING ON STEPS PEOPLE ON AIRPORT STEPS HELICOPTER FLYING IN TO LAND EMERGENCY MINISTRY RESCUE TEAM ON GROUND VARIOUS AS AMBULANCES AND EMERGENCY MINISTRY APPROACH HELICOPTER AT AIRPORT EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAM WAITING BY AMBULANCE HELICOPTER ON GROUND RESCUED INJURED PEOPLE ON STRE
- Embargoed: 26th April 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA9X4TGYIF3B79VVVQ3PGS15X0X
- Story Text: Ten people were killed on Saturday (April 10) when a helicopter carrying snowboarders was hit by an avalanche after landing on a ski slope in Russia's Far East.
The helicopter, carrying 18 people including tourists from Germany and Belgium, had landed on a ski slope in Russia's Kamchatka region.
Eight people were rescued - seven tourists and one crew member - and airlifted to Avachinsky Airport, where they were transferred to amulances and taken to local hospitals in Yelizovo.
Rescue work at the avalanche site was continuing according to local transport authorities.
"The Emergency Ministry rescue team is working at the site with dog teams - this is the original rescue team, with a doctor - still there and looking for the people still under the avalanche and they will be brought to Yelizovo too," said Maxim Belov, spokesman for the Kamchatka Transport Prosecutor's Office.
Earlier the Emergency Ministry said three Russians and one German were among the dead dug out of the snow.
Rescuers were still searching for two Russians and four Germans according to officials.
Two helicopter crew members also were among the dead. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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