What We Know About the Accident Site of President Raisi's Helicopter

Local residents in the vicinity of the potential crash site of the helicopter carrying Iran's President have told Radio Farda that the search efforts are concentrated around the village of "Pir Davood" in the "Qordlar" region near the Soghun Mine in Varzeqan. One of the workers at the Soghun Mine in Varzeqan told Radio Farda that the area has been under thick fog for the past three days, and it is currently also raining. Two other local residents also mentioned to Radio Farda that the search team's focus is on the mountainous and forested area of "Pir Davood." According to them, this location is foggy even in summer, and the fog density is currently very high. Neither of these two local witnesses heard an explosion, and it is likely that the potential helicopter crash occurred in the forested areas of the Pir Davood mountains near the Soghun Mine. The height of the Pir Davood mountains reaches up to 1800 meters in some areas. Iranian domestic media have also reported that the harsh weather conditions at the accident site in Varzeqan are foggy. According to these reports, the weather in this area is currently extremely foggy, making rescue operations difficult. The director of the East Azerbaijan Meteorological Organization stated that rain and fog will continue in the Varzeqan area until tomorrow night. About three hours after the first reports of the accident involving the helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi, media and officials of the Islamic Republic stated that the potential crash site has not yet been found. Bahram Einollahi, the Minister of Health, told the news network that "the area is severely foggy," and for this reason, the search for the accident-stricken helicopter is proceeding "with difficulty." The IRNA news agency also reported from the area near the accident that "the difficult terrain and the presence of thick fog and rain" have prevented search and rescue teams from locating the helicopter. Ebrahim Raisi was returning by helicopter after the inauguration of the Khoda Afarin and Qiz Qaleh dams on Sunday, 30 Ordibehesht, when reports of loss of communication with the helicopter and its potential crash in the Varzeqan area emerged.