The Mi-8 helicopter was flying near the Vachkazhets volcano when it lost contact

MOSCOW, RUSSIA, Sept 1: A Russian military helicopter carrying 22 people vanished in the country's remote Kamchatka Peninsula on Saturday, the emergencies ministry said. The Mi-8 helicopter was flying near the Vachkazhets volcano when it lost contact.

According to a source in the emergency services cited by TASS news agency, the helicopter vanished from radar shortly after takeoff, with the crew not reporting any issues, AFP reported.

Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov announced in a video posted on Telegram, "Today (August 31) at about 1615 (0415 GMT) communication was lost with a Mi-8 helicopter... which had 22 people on board, 19 passengers and three crew members."

Search and rescue teams are facing challenging conditions due to dense fog in the area.

Kamchatka, a popular tourist destination, which is nine hours ahead of Moscow, is known for its stunning natural landscapes.