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No chances to find any Russians alive after Mi-8 crash in Congo, experts said

The helicopter burnt down in the fire that was triggered after its smashing in the mountain

MOSCOW, March 11 (Itar-Tass) – There are no chances to find any Russians alive after the crash of a helicopter Mi-8 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The experts, who came to the air crash site, gave this assessment, Russian Consul in the Democratic Republic of Congo Alexander Tkachev told the television news channel Rossiya 24 on Monday.

“During the search operation the rescuers managed to land in the area, where a helicopter Mi-8 with the Russian crew crashed on Sunday,” he noted. “The helicopter burnt down in the fire that was triggered after its smashing in the mountain,” he said. “The crew included Vladimir Safonov, Alexander Sarafanov, Alexander Bessmertny and Yevgeny Nikitin. According to the estimates of the experts, there are no chances that someone survived,” Tkachev noted. “Meanwhile, the rescue operation will continue in order to get inside the helicopter Mi-8. For this purpose the measures are being taken to deliver the required equipment to the helicopter crash site by land,” the consul remarked.

The helicopter Mi-8AMT, which the United Nations Organization chartered, was on the Shabunda-Bukavu flight in hard climatic conditions in the highlands. The helicopter got on the line last time at a distance of ten miles from the airport Bukavu and did not arrive at the airport at the scheduled time. Later the helicopter was spotted in the hard-to-reach district in the jungle highlands at an altitude of about 2,700 kilometres.

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