At least four people have died and one is missing after a firefighting helicopter returning from a firefighting mission crashed into the Douro River in northern Portugal on Friday (30).
The pilot was rescued alive by a nearby tourist boat and taken to hospital with broken legs.
In addition to the pilot, a team of five specialists from the Emergency Protection and Relief Unit were on board when the helicopter crashed in the Lamego area.
“Two bodies were inside the aircraft and two others were found near the tail of the aircraft, which was broken in two,” Rui Silva Lampreia, commander of the Douro Port Authority, told reporters.
“We are conducting underwater searches around the helicopter and along the banks,” he added.
The cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, who traveled to the crash site, told reporters that Saturday (31) would be a day of national mourning.
Dozens of rescuers, maritime police, divers and two Air Force helicopters are still working in the river area.
This content was originally published in Four people die after firefighter helicopter crashes in Portugal on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil

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