10 killed in Indonesia's helicopter crash

Xinhua, August 4, 2011

Ten people were killed after a helicopter crashed in North Sulawesi province on Wednesday, a rescuer said on Thursday.

The helicopter which started to lose contact at 06:26 GMT had been found near the Dua Saudara mountain, Rudiyanto, head of operation of the Search and Rescue Office in North Sulawesi told Xinhua by phone.

"Nine people were found dead on the scene and another was in critical condition, the person also died on the way to a hospital in Manado," said Rudiyanto.

The 10 people on board include three Australians, two Africans and five Indonesians, he said.

Now the evacuation of the nine fatalities has been underway, according to the rescuer.

The accident took place when the helicopter operated by the Yemen Air was transporting those workers of a gold mine in Halmahera, said Rudiyanto.