Helicopter Crashes into Lake in Kamchatka: Casualties and Injuries Reported

During the night, a helicopter carrying 16 people crashed into Kuril Lake in Kamchatka. The helicopter has gone underwater. Preliminary reports indicate that 8 of the passengers in the cabin have died, while the remaining 8 have been rescued, with 2 suffering serious injuries. This information has been reported by RIA Novosti, citing the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry.

The ministry stated that at 00:50 Moscow time on August 12, they received information about a hard landing of the Mi-8 helicopter operated by the Vityaz-Aero company. According to preliminary information, the helicopter had 3 crew members and 13 passengers on board, including a child. The helicopter was flying from the settlement of Nikolaevka to Kuril Lake as part of a tourist route. The incident occurred within the territory of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve.