Thousands join search for crashed helicopter

By Li Xinran and Lydia Chen  |   2008-6-2  |     ONLINE EDITION

MORE than 10,000 rescuers have been dispatched to search for a crashed helicopter that was carrying 14 injured earthquake victims and five crew members in earthquake-hit Sichuan Province, China News Service reported today.

Some teams have enough food and water to last a week as they work almost non-stop in Wenchuan, where the Mi-171 helicopter was believed to have crashed on Saturday afternoon.

Chengdu Military Area also dispatched four helicopters to join the search.

A military officer involved in the rescue work told China Central Television Station said it was difficult to locate the green-colored helicopter given the vast plant-coverage in the mountainous region.

Rescuers also have to battle mountainous terrain and search numerous valleys. Most roads in the area were blocked by landslides triggered by the 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12, CCTV said.

The Russian-designed transport helicopter crashed in Wenchuan when it was returning from taking epidemic prevention experts to Lixian County. The tragedy occurred when the plane encountered thick fog and turbulence near Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan.

CCTV said the air journey from Lixian to Yingxiu passes several mountains up to 4,987 meters high.

Previous reports said the helicopter crew consisted of pilot in command Qiu Guanghua, pilot Li Yue, mechanics officers Wang Huaiyuan and Chen Lin as well as Sergeant Zhang Peng.

Qiu was selected by late Premier Zhou Enlai in 1974 to be a helicopter pilot. Qiu is one of the People's Liberation Army's most experienced helicopter pilots. He lost contact with his family after the devastating earthquake struck on May 12, China Radio International reported today.

Qiu's hometown was reportedly between Wenchuan County and Maoxian County, two of the most heavily damaged areas in the earthquake. Qiu's family members were briefly missing, but all were found safe, the report said.