WordBulletin

World Bulletin / News Desk

Helicopter crash killed 5 Turkish soldiers and wounded 7 others in the eastern province of Hakkari on Sunday.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Turkish General Staff stated that a S-70 helicopter that belonged to Gendarmerie General Command crashed due to a technical failure in the town of Yuksekova of eastern province of Hakkari on Sunday. The accident killed 4 Turkish soldiers at the spot and wounded 8 others.

Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) stated that the helicopter was down due to power dissipation while it was landing. Following the accident, martyrs and wounded soldiers were taken to Yuksekova. TSK also stated that an investigation was under way.

Wounded soldiers were taken to hospitals in Van following their first treatment at Yuksekova State Hospital.

One of the wounded soldiers was nonresponsive to the treatment in the hospital, increasing the number of martyrs to 5.

Clashes have taken place in Hakkari in the past between the Turkish armed forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). More than 40,000 people have died in the conflict since the PKK took up arms against the state in 1984.