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17 bodies found after Russian tourist helicopter crash
Rescuers in the Russian far-east have found no survivors in the wreckage of a helicopter that disappeared while carrying 22 people – most of them tourists.
The aircraft went missing on Saturday after taking off from a base near the Vachkazhets volcano in the Kamchatka peninsula. Officials said on Sunday that 17 bodies had been found so far.
That area, a popular tourist destination, is famous for its active volcanoes. The cause of the crash in unclear.
Such accidents are relatively frequent in Russia’s far-east, which is sparsely populated and suffers harsh weather. Three years ago eight people were killed when a tourist helicopter crashed into a lake in Kamchatka.
The Mi-8T helicopter that disappeared from radar on Saturday was carrying 19 tourists and three crew.
The wreckage was found on Sunday morning in a hilly area, Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said on Telegram.
Footage posted to the messaging app by Russia’s emergencies ministry showed helicopter debris lying near a slope close to a large wooded hill. Officials said the wreckage was found near the location where the helicopter went off radar.
An emergency ministry official, Ivan Lemikhov, said17 bodies had been found so far and searches for those still missing had been paused, slated to resume at daybreak on Monday.
Russia’s Interfax news agency reported that pilot error, possibly caused by fog, was the main theory regarding the cause of the crash.
Earlier, earlier officials said that thick fog was hampering rescuers’ efforts.
The aircraft was owned by Vityaz-Aero, a Kamchatka-based company that organises flights for tourists.
Designed during the Soviet-era, the Mi-8 helicopter is still widely used in Russia.
Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute from a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory.
Merino was the late hero for the second straight match for Spain, who advanced to face tournament favourite France in the semifinals on Tuesday in Dallas.
Merino came on in the 86th minute and scored from his second touch of the match, charging into the box and pouncing after Lammens spilled a Pau Cubarsi shot from outside the area.
The Arsenal forward also scored as a substitute early in injury time to secure Spain’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the last-16.
Lammens, the Manchester United keeper, was forced into the match in the 71st minute after longtime Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois left with an apparent thigh injury.
Belgium desperately pressed for an equaliser in the final minutes, but Aymeric Laporte volleyed their best chance out of the box.
Fabian Ruiz scored the opening goal in the 30th minute for Spain after Courtois had parried a shot from Dani Olmo from Pedro Porro’s cut-back from the right of the area, but Belgium forward Charles De Ketelaere scored the first goal allowed by Spain in the entire World Cup in the 41st minute.
His header from Timothy Castagne’s cross from the right ended a record streak of 649 minutes without conceding at the World Cup.
The annual rugby encounter between Dharmaraja College and Kingswood College, played for the William Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy, is set to take place tomorrow (July 11, 2026), at 4:00 PM at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.
The official unveiling of the trophy took place this week at the Dharmaraja College premises with the participation of the Principals of the two schools, teachers-in-charge of sports, coaches, the Rugby teams, and several distinguished guests, including Dharmaraja College Old Boys’ Association President Mahesh Wijetunga, Kingswood College Old Boys’ Association President Muditha Abeykoon,
by S K SAMARANAYAKE
It has been reported quoting family sources that veteran singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke has passed away this morning (10) at the age of 68
She had been receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.
Spain leave it late to book semifinal date with France
Showers will occur in the Sabaragamuwa, Western and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
US$ 2.5 mn cyber heist exposes system failures
Opposition signs no-confidence motion against Justice Minister for dereliction of duty over Negombo Prison deaths
AG informs SC of e-visa agreement review
Navy, Coast Guard seize smuggled pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in Puttalam
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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