A helicopter carrying at least six individuals has plunged into a river in northern Portugal.
The pilot of the aircraft is said to have been saved by a tourist boat, however, at least five police officers aboard the helicopter remain unaccounted for following the crash near the city of Lamego in Cambres.
The aircraft is now believed to be submerged in the Douro River. Local reports indicate that the missing officers are part of an emergency protection and assistance unit of the GPR police force known as the UEPS.
The alert was sounded around 12.36 pm this afternoon local time.
A large-scale search and rescue operation is currently underway in the region.
GNR chief Mafalda Gomes de Almeida has confirmed that the only individual rescued thus far is the helicopter pilot, who sustained multiple injuries.
She said: “There is still no information that the five GNR officers, who belong to the Armamar company, were rescued alive.”
Local outlet RTP reports the pilot was transported to Vila Real hospital after developing hypothermia and suffering some fractures.
The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority said 83 officers have been deployed to the scene with 21 vehicles, five boats and three aircraft to search for the five missing crew.
A spokesman for the GNR police force confirmed: “The search is continuing in the river for the five members of the UEPS who are still missing.
“Maritime police, firefighters, divers, recreational boats and GNR military personnel are involved. The causes of the accident are as yet unknown.
“The pilot of the helicopter was rescued alive with minor injuries.”
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro is travelling to the crash site.
The chopper had been tackling a fire in Baiao near to the crash scene when it went down.