Seven people were killed and eight others were wounded on July 5 when a military helicopter carrying top soldiers crashed in the Black Sea province of Giresun, the Turkish General Staff has announced.

The Sikorsky S-70 helicopter was carrying 15 people, including Gendarmerie Region Commander Brigadier Mustafa Doğru, Region Commander Executive Officer Col. Ünal Bayhan, Provincial Gendarmerie Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Saadettin Şahin, Gendarmerie Staff Sergeant Cemalettin Çoban, Gendarmerie Specialized Sergeant Adem Kara, Pilot Captain Hilmi Özer, Pilot First Lt. Yüksek Kandemir and Gendarmerie technician non-commissioned officer Muhammet Bedek along with the wives of the military personnel and three children. They were returning from Eid al-Fitr visits to military posts and families of fallen soldiers in the region.

The helicopter crashed in the Tohumluk highlands of the Alucra district of Giresun at 5.30 p.m.

Seven people, including soldiers, were killed in the accident while eight others were wounded, the General Staff said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said there were both casualties and injuries in the accident, adding that the cause of the crash was harsh weather conditions.

Giresun Mayor Kerim Aksu also stated that seven people were killed according to the reports.

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım also contacted Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar for information on the crash.