PERU: The military helicopter dispatched to rescue flood victims in Peru has crashed, killing at least 15 people in a tragedy that has deepened the crisis in the disaster-stricken nation.
The Russian-made Mil Mi-17 was engaged in an emergency relief mission when it lost contact with the control room. The aircraft had departed from the coastal city of Pisco and was transporting flood survivors to a safer location when the incident occurred.
The helicopter had been completely consumed by fire, leaving behind charred wreckage scattered across rugged terrain.
Those killed were four crew members and eleven flood victims who had been evacuated from affected areas. The identities of the deceased have not yet been officially released, pending notification of their families.
The crash comes at a time when Peru is grappling with severe flooding triggered by persistent and heavy rainfall. Entire communities have been submerged, infrastructure has been heavily damaged, and thousands of residents have been displaced.
The floods have already claimed around ten lives, according to preliminary figures, and emergency teams continue to race against time to assist those stranded in rising waters.
The government had called upon the armed forces to assist in large-scale rescue and relief operations as conditions worsened across several regions. Military aircraft, including helicopters, were deployed to reach remote and inaccessible areas cut off by floodwaters.
