4 Chinese oil workers killed in Niger helicopter crash

The Chinese embassy in Niger confirmed Monday that the wreckage of a missing helicopter was found in the desert in northern Niger, with all six people aboard killed.

Four Chinese oil workers and two French crew members died of the crash, said the embassy.

The Chinese workers, all employees of China's oil giant China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), was traveling Friday morning in the chartered helicopter from their base in Agadem to a working site.

At the news of the crash, the Chinese embassy immediately contacted the Niger government and military for help, Xia Huang, Chinese ambassador to Niger, told Xinhua on Monday.

The embassy also informed the French embassy, considering the two crew members were French nationals.

Although the deep desert where the helicopter went missing made the search very difficult, with concerted efforts the wreckage of the helicopter was finally found, Xia said.