ASTANA, February 28 (RIA Novosti) - Four people were killed on Thursday after an Emergency Situations Ministry helicopter crashed in the south of Kazakhstan, the ministry said.
"According to preliminary information, 17 people were on board the helicopter. Four people died and the rest were taken to the nearest hospital," the ministry said.
The ministry said that the Mi-8 helicopter was inspecting ice conditions on the Syr-Darya River, in the southern Kyzylordynsky district of Kazakhstan, when it crashed.
A special commission has been set up to investigate the cause of the crash, the ministry added.