As the clock ticks past 11:30 p.m. local time in the remote, mountainous region of East Azerbaijan Province in Iran, authorities continue their search and rescue efforts following the crash of President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter earlier today. It has been approximately 10 hours since contact was lost with the helicopter, with dense fog complicating search operations throughout the day.
The challenging weather conditions, including extreme cold as night descends, pose additional obstacles for the search teams. While the overnight low temperature in the nearby city of Tabriz is expected to be in the low 50s on Sunday, temperatures in the rugged mountains where the crash occurred are anticipated to drop closer to freezing.
Despite these challenges, Iranian officials have identified the precise location of the crash site and are mobilizing teams to reach the area. Earlier developments saw authorities establishing communication with two individuals who were on board the aircraft at the time of the incident, as confirmed by a government spokesperson.