Seoul: A South Korean rescue helicopter has crashed with seven people on board. The cause of the accident is not yet known.
Rescue efforts were underway on Friday after a South Korean ambulance helicopter with seven people on board crashed into the sea off the country's east coast.
Seong Ho-seon, who is part of the team looking for survivors, said that the helicopter was responding to an injury of a crab fisherman when it crashed at approximately 11:30 p.m. Thursday. It had the wounded patient on board and was en route to a hospital in Daegu on the mainland when tragedy struck.
"We presume that the helicopter crashed into sea within two minutes after liftoff," Seong said as part of a televised briefing.
South Korea helicopter crash
Interior Minister Chin Young chaired a meeting with related government officials via teleconference at the government complex in Seoul.
The accident took place near the South Korea-controlled islets of Dokdo.
Numerous airplanes have been deployed, as well as 30 divers, but until now, no survivors have been found.