Nine die in quake relief crash
SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Nine Australian defense personnel have died in a helicopter crash during relief operations on Indonesia's earthquake-devastated island of Nias, the Australian Defense Department said.
Two other people on board the Australian navy Sea King helicopter survived the crash.
They were rescued by a second Sea King helicopter and taken back to the transport supply ship HMAS Kanimbla.
The crash occurred on Saturday at about 4.30 p.m. local time (0930 GMT) near the town of Gunung Sitoli, off the west coast of Sumatra, the defense statement said.
Reports from the scene said the helicopter was approaching the village of Amadraya and flying at a low altitude when it nose-dived into the ground and exploded in flames. The seven men and two women who died were members of the crew and the medical and supply teams on board.
The Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Lt.-Gen. Peter Cosgrove, told a press conference in Canberra on Sunday morning that despite the tragedy, Australia's relief effort in Sumatra would continue.
He said the Kanimbla, which only arrived on Saturday from Singapore after three months providing tsunami relief in the Indonesian province of Aceh, would stay on.
Gen. Cosgrove said there would be a full investigation into the causes of the crash. The Australian navy's Sea King helicopter fleet is about 30 years old.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Sunday the loss of nine young Australians in the Nias tragedy was "heart-breaking".
"These young Australians were on a mission of mercy and compassion, they were helping the poor people of the island of Nias in the wake of the latest earthquake there," Howard told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.
Howard is to meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who arrives in Australia later on Sunday for his first visit since taking office last October.
The leaders' talks will include their joint relief and reconstruction effort in Indonesia after the latest quake and the December 26 tsunami, which is underwritten by Australia's commitment of Aust. $1 billion ($780 million).
