The bodies of eight soldiers have been recovered from the wreckage of a US military helicopter lost on an earthquake relief mission in Nepal high on a mountainside, Nepali officials said on Saturday.
Six US marines and two Nepali soldiers were on the helicopter when it went missing while distributing aid on Tuesday, the day a strong aftershock hit Nepal.
The crew had been heard over the radio saying the aircraft was experiencing a fuel problem.
“Together we mourn as our nation and the Federal Republic of Nepal have lost eight courageous men,” said Admiral Samuel J Locklear, commander of the US Pacific Command.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families.”
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The helicopter was assisting with relief operations in the Himalayan state after it was hit by a big earthquake last month that killed more than 8,000 people, while hundreds of thousands of buildings have been damaged.
The remains would soon be transferred to Kathmandu, Jagadish Pokharel, a spokesman for the Nepali army said.
