People observe the information {that a} helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crashed in a retailer in Tehran, Iran, on May 19. Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency/Reuters
Twenty rescue groups and drones had been dispatched to the scene the place a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian crashed on Sunday, Iran’s state information company IRNA mentioned.
The English-language Iranian News Agency mentioned the 2 males had been with a gaggle of dignitaries on a helicopter getting back from the inauguration of a dam on the Iran-Azerbaijan border when the aircraft “crashed upon touchdown in Varzakan province on Sunday.”
“Twenty rescue groups and drones have been dispatched to the scene however the search and rescue operation will take time because of the impassable, mountainous and forested space in addition to poor climate, particularly heavy fog,” the Iranian information company mentioned.
IRNA additionally reported that the helicopter crashed within the Dizmar forest space between the villages of Oj and Pir Davood, citing native residents, who mentioned they heard sounds from the world, the information company added.
Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi mentioned one of many helicopters within the convoy was compelled to make a tough touchdown on account of foggy climate.
“Different rescue groups are at the moment on their solution to the scene, however because of the fog, unhealthy climate and unhealthy situations, it could take a while for them to succeed in the helicopter location,” Vahidi mentioned in a televised tackle posted by the Iranian information company on Telegram.
He added that there had been some contact with passengers on the helicopter, however gave no additional particulars.