New Delhi: In a devastating incident, rescuers have located 17 bodies following the crash of a Mi-8 helicopter in Russias Kamchatka Peninsula. The helicopter, which was carrying 22 people, including 19 tourists and three crew members, went missing shortly after takeoff on Saturday, regional authorities confirmed.Dangerous yet popular tourist destinationKamchatka, known for its rugged beauty, active volcanoes, and untouched wilderness, is a favored destination for adventure tourists. However, the remote and often treacherous terrain also makes it prone to accidents, as demonstrated by this latest tragedy.The wreckage was discovered on Sunday morning in a remote hilly area at an elevation of 900 meters, according to Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov, who shared the update in a video on Telegram. The regions difficult topography and sparse population make rescue operations particularly challenging.Helicopter wreckage foundAerial footage released by Russias emergency situations ministry showed the remnants of the helicopter scattered along a wooded slope near the peak of a large hill. The debris was located close to the area where the aircraft had disappeared from radar, further complicating rescue efforts.Ivan Lemikhov, an official from the ministry, confirmed the grim news: At this moment, we have already found 17 bodies. He added that rescuers have established a base camp near the crash site but have paused the search operations until daylight returns.Aviation accidents in Russias far eastThe Mi-8 helicopter, a Soviet-era design, is commonly used for transportation across Russia, especially in isolated regions like Kamchatka. The aircraft involved in this crash was operated by Vityaz-Aero, a local company that organizes tourist flights.Unfortunately, such accidents are not uncommon in Russias far eastern regions, where many areas are only accessible by air. In August 2021, another Mi-8 helicopter crashed into a lake in Kamchatka, killing eight people. The region also witnessed a plane crash in July of the same year, resulting in the deaths of all 28 people on board.
