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Chopper missing in Kyrgyzstan
16/03/2004 09:34 - (SA)
Bishkek - A helicopter carrying 19 people on a hunting party went missing in southeastern Kyrgyzstan on Monday, the emergencies ministry said.
Air traffic authorities lost contact with the Russian-made Mi-8 helicopter at 14:00 when it apparently got caught in an avalanche near this mountainous former Soviet republic's border with China, spokesperson Emil Akhmatov said.
Bad weather in the Tien Shan mountain range, where the helicopter went missing, meant that rescuers were unable to reach the scene on Monday. Authorities hoped to a launch a search on Tuesday.
The party of 15 adventure hunters and four crew had gone in search of the Central Asian ibex, a breed of wild goat, Akhmatov said.
Since the end of Soviet rule in 1991, Kyrgyzstan has attracted increasing numbers of high-paying adventure tourists from across the globe, drawn by its exhilarating landscape and distinctive culture.
- SAPA
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