BISHKEK, July 9 (Xinhua) -- A helicopter crashed in mountains of Kyrgyzstan's northern Issyk-Kul region on Monday, injuring four people, the press service of the country's armed forces reported.
"Today, MI-8 MTV, a helicopter of the Air Defense Forces of Kyrgyzstan crashed during a rescue operation on the South Enilchek site," it said.
The chopper was conducting an operation to rescue a Japanese climber when the accident occurred, Gulzat Jarasheva, head of the press service, told Xinhua. And the four people aboard received various injuries.
The press service statement attributed the crash to "the strong side wind during the landing" of the helicopter, which then "fell on the port side."
South Enilchek is located in the heart of the Northern Tien Shan in the headwaters of the Enilchek glacier, approximately at an altitude of 4000 meters above sea level.
