Karel Gwijangge, a member of the family of one of the victims said to ANTARA here on Monday he was hoping for a plane from Timika to evacuate the victims.
"We are hoping there will be a plane that could fly there to pick up the victims and evacuate to Timika for further treatment," he said.
Karel who is also the deputy chairman of the Mimika district legislative assembly said one of the four of victims in critical condition in Mapenduma is his mother named Orit Nirigi.
He said she along with more than 10 other passengers at around 9.31am East Indonesia Time flew from Timika to Mapenduma by helicopter Bell-412 belonging to the regional Cenderawasih/XVII Military Command.
"Until now the actual number of passengers on the helicopter is still unconfirmed. Some say it is 17 other say 10 plus three crew members," he said.
According to information Karel received directly from Rev. Yulas Gwijangge in Mapenduma through an SSB the chopper crashed in a field about five meters before landing at around 11am. At the time the wind was very strong, he said.
The chopper was badly damaged with its propellers coming off and its tail broken and the chopper slid into a field. Smoke was once seen coming out of its engine.
It was lucky all passengers and crew were safe but some of them suffered serious injuries.
ANTARA learned three crew members had been evacuated to Timika on Monday afternoon by an Airfast helicopter belonging to PT Freeport Indonesia.
The chief of the 1710 Mimika Military District, Lt Col Bonni Christian Pardede, confirmed the incident. "That is the information (I have received). I am now still waiting for a further report from Timika. What is clear is that all passengers are safe," he said through a short message.
He said he was on duty outside Timika when he received the information.
The head of air transportation of Mimika District, John Rettob, said he was ready to help meet the demand of the victims` family to find a chartered plane to evacuate the critically wounded.
"We will strive maximally to help transport the wounded from Mapenduma to Timika," he said.
He said there is no regular flight service to Mapenduma. Flight service to the region has so far been carried out by Pilatus Porter of Susi Air upon a request.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
