VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Sixty Army personnel are readied to evacuate victims of MI 17 helicopter that crashed around Mandala Mountain in Pegunungan Bintang District, Papua Province.

The Army personnel arrived in Oksibil to evacuate the victims using three Army helicopters, Chief Commander of the Cendrawasih Regional Military Command XVII Lt. Col. Dax Sianturi said on Tuesday morning.

Dax who is now in Oksibil said he had no idea when exactly the victims will be evacuated since the crash site is on a cliff with 90 degree slope.

"Today (Tuesday/Feb 11) the evacuation team still conducted an aerial survey to find a location to airdrop the personnel who will evacuate the victims," he said.

He expressed the hope the weather would be good since the cliff is located 11,000 feet above sea level

It is believed the MI 17 helicopter was connected to the Indonesian Army Aviation Center and carried 12 passengers including five members of infantry battalion 725/WRG.

The helicopter reportedly lost contact during its flight from Oksibli to Sentani on June 28, 2019. (ANTARA)