Ministers die in chopper crash

2008-06-28 13:15

Guatemala City - Guatemala's Interior Minister Vinicio Gomez and deputy minister Edgar Hernandez were among four people killed Friday in a helicopter crash, a presidential spokesperson said.

"We have confirmation the deceased in the accident were minister Gomez and deputy minister Hernandez, another yet unidentified person and the helicopter pilot," the spokesperson told AFP.

The helicopter was travelling to northern Peten department for a regional security meeting when it crashed at Purulha, in Alta Verapaz department, the official said.

A local fire service spokesperson said the helicopter lost contact with air traffic control at around 19:58.

The cause of the crash was under investigation, he added.

President Alvaro Colom canceled his planned attendance at Saturday's Mexico-Central American summit in Villahermosa, Mexico, because of his minister's death, his spokesperson said.

"The Mexican government is already lending its support. It has put a plane at the president's disposal to take him from Villahermosa to Guatemala tomorrow," spokesman Fernando Barrillas said.

Attorney general Juan Luis Florido told reporters that the search for the victims would intensify on Saturday, as officials had not yet been able to reach the crash site.

- SAPA