TEHRAN: The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) President, Pir-Hossein Kolivand, has confirmed that rescue and search teams have identified the wreckage of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s crashed helicopter. Kolivand made the announcement on Monday morning, stating that the teams have arrived at the wreckage site, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
While Kolivand did not provide extensive details, he noted that “the condition is not good.” This brief but telling statement highlights the gravity of the situation as rescue efforts continue.
“Seventy-three rescue teams are present in the search area of the helicopter in Tawal village with advanced and specialized equipment,” Kolivand added, emphasizing the extensive efforts being made to manage the situation and search for potential survivors.
Earlier, the Red Crescent’s National Emergency Management Headquarters announced that its rescue teams had moved towards two identified hotspots located by a Turkish drone.
“Red Crescent rescue teams are moving towards the possible landing place of the helicopter,” it was reported, after Turkey’s high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, named Akinci, detected a hotspot that probably indicates the location where the helicopter crashed.
President Raisi was returning with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and several others from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on Iran’s border with Azerbaijan when their helicopter crashed upon landing in the Varzaqan region on Sunday.
This tragic incident has prompted a swift response from Iranian and Turkish authorities, showcasing a collaborative international effort to locate and assist those involved in the crash.
As rescue teams continue their arduous work in the Tawal village area, the nation waits anxiously for more information. The discovery of the helicopter wreckage marks a crucial step in understanding the full impact of this incident and determining the next steps in the rescue and recovery process.
