Other events in Baltic States

A civilian helicopter crashed during the Rally Liepaja today in Priekule Region (southwestern Latvia), the State Police have confirmed yesterday.

According to initial information, one person has died while another three have been injured. Police received a call about the incident at 13:35 p.m. Rescuers and medics are currently at the scene. The crash itself happened several minute earlier.

As LETA was informed by one of the rally's organizers, the accident happened near the 11th stage, which has been since closed off. The crash happened when the helicopter was taking off. According to eyewitnesses and video material, the crash happened several hundred meters from the take-off site. Two persons involved in the crash are currently unconscious, while the third has suffered injuries.

Crash investigators are also at the scene to determine the reason for the incident.

The helicopter which crashed during the Liepaja Rally near Liepaja (southwestern Latvia) got tangled up in an electricity cable as it was taking off, according to Civil Aviation Agency director Maris Gorodcovs.

He said that this information must be verified, but that all eye witnesses at the scene confirmed that this is indeed what happened.

Meanwhile, the national power line operator Sadales Tikls also confirmed that power in that specific area was indeed knocked out at the same time of the incident.