Sunday, 19 May 2024 1:11 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 19 May 2024 3:19 PM ]
Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has confirmed that a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raeisi makes a hard landing in the city of Jolfa in the northwestern Iranian province of East Azarbaijan.
The helicopter was transporting President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor Malek Rahmati, Friday Prayers leader of Tabriz city Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem and several other passengers when it encountered difficulties and was forced to make a "hard landing."
The incident happened at Dizmar forest, between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa.
One hour after the incident, rescue teams reached the area and started search operations.
President of the Red Crescent Society Pir Hossein Kolivand announced that forty emergency relief teams from six provinces of Tehran, Alborz, Ardabil, Zanjan, East Azarbaijan, and West Azerbaijan, have been deployed to the site of the incident and are currently searching the area.
Fifteen Red Crescent K-9 teams (sniffer dogs) along with two Red Crescent drones are also searching the area for any trace of the helicopter carrying the Iranian President, he said.
Due to the adverse weather conditions and severe fog in the area, the Red Crescent's rescue helicopters are currently unable to fly, and the teams are conducting a ground search of the area, he added.
Iran's Emergency Services spokesman said that eight ambulances were sent to the region as heavy fog has made air rescue efforts impossible.
Babak Yektaparast told IRNA news agency that emergency medical teams, including technicians and doctors, were dispatched to the site immediately after the incident was reported.
He added that an emergency helicopter was also deployed to provide assistance, but was forced to return as it was unable to land due to heavy fog.
Two other helicopters carrying a number of ministers and officials reached the destination safely.
President Raeisi was returning from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on the Aras River with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
This is a developing story...
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