Seven killed in Turkish military helicopter crash

Seven people, including senior military personnel and children, were killed and eight others injured when a Turkish military helicopter crashed Tuesday in the northeastern province of Giresun, the army announced.

"Seven of our companions in arms, their wives and children have lost their lives," the army chief of staff said in a statement.

An earlier toll from Prime Minister Binali Yildirim spoke of at least five of the 15 aboard having died.

"There have been deaths and injuries," Yildirim told journalists in the western province in Izmir, adding that 15 people had been onboard.

CNN-Turk earlier reported that the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter crashed in bad weather at around 1430 GMT in Alucra, a mountainous area of Giresun, which lies on the Black Sea.

A brigadier general, colonel and two majors were among those on board when the helicopter crashed, the private Dogan news agency reported.

They were on a flight to greet other military personnel and their families to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the agency said.

It added that the passengers included several other officers as well as civilians and three children.