More groups searching to locate site of President Raisi helicopter crash

Tehran, SANA– Iran’s Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has dispatched more groups to help locate the site where the helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi has crashed in northwestern province of East Azarbaijan, according to IRCS chief Pirhossein Koulivand.

President Raisi was returning from a ceremony to open a dam on Iran’s border with Azerbaijan when his helicopter crashed upon landing in Varzaqan region on Sunday.

Rapid response and rescue teams of neighboring provinces are also called to help the search and rescue operation, Koulivand said few hours after the incident.

A total of 40 teams are searching the area, the official said, while noting that inclement weather conditions and the impassability of the area is hampering the operation.

He noted that the weather conditions make air searching impossible. He, however, added that drones have been sent to the area to help locate the crash site.

Mhamad