Military helicopter crashes in northern Turkey

By Gultekin Yetgin and Hayati Akcay

GIRESUN, Turkey (AA) - A military helicopter crashed in Turkey's Black Sea province of Giresun on Tuesday, leaving an unknown number of dead and injured.

The helicopter was carrying high-ranking officers when it crashed near Tohumluk, a village in the mountains to the south of the coast, a security source said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said bad weather conditions and poor visibility may have contributed to the crash. “We have no clear information. There are reports that there are injured and dead,” he said in Izmir, western Turkey. “It would not be right to say a [figure] as the numbers need confirmation.”

Local media cited Giresun Mayor Kerim Aksu as saying six people were killed in the crash, which happened at 5.30 p.m. local time (1430GMT).

Yildirim said there “might be five or more”. Four casualties were taken to Yaglidere State Hospital in the provincial capital.

The premier and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan both telephoned Gen. Hulusi Akar, chief of the general staff, in the wake of the crash.