All eight people aboard a Taiwan military helicopter are confirmed dead after it crashed in Chishan Town, southern Kaohsiung City, according to reports by local media on Wednesday.

The Bell UH-1H helicopter, also known as the Iroquois or "Huey," belonging to the Taiwan army aviation and special forces command, was reported to be carrying out a drill on Tuesday when it crashed into a radio tower.

The helicopter took off from a base in Gueiren Town in southern Taiwan at 3:52 PM, and disappeared from contact at 4:00 PM. Taiwan's military authorities then received a report at 4:30 PM that the helicopter had crashed in Chishan Town.

Five bodies were found on Tuesday and the other three were discovered early on Wednesday.

Initial investigations attributed the accident to heavy fog in local mountain areas, resulting in poor visibility.

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2007)