Seven people, including firefighters, police officers, and civil protection personnel, died when a firefighting helicopter crashed in Argentina's western San Juan province on Wednesday. The Bell 412 aircraft was training before heading to a neighboring province to help put out days-long fires when it crashed in Ischigualasto natural park. It lost contact with the base around 10:30 am local time. San Juan Governor Marcelo Orrego expressed profound sorrow over the incident, and the local government declared three days of mourning.
The causes of the accident are under investigation, and a rescue team has been deployed. Argentine Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva expressed her condolences. A local journalist, who was a friend of one of the victims, described the scene as shocking, with the helicopter shattered into pieces. La Rioja, where the fires are occurring, is a semi-arid region grappling with several forest fires in mountainous areas since the beginning of the week.
