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Estudyante patay, 3 sugatan matapos mahulog sa poso negro

Arman B. Cambe
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Estudyante patay, 3 sugatan matapos mahulog sa poso negro

ALFONSO, Cavite. Patay ang isang grade 5 student habang tatlo pa ang nagtamo ng sugat matapos mahulog sa isang poso negro sa loob ng Sinaliw Malaki Elementary School sa Brgy. Sinaliw Malaki, bayang ito.

Pawang mga estudyante ang apat na biktima na isinugod sa Poblete Hospital, subalit idineklarang dead on arrival ang isang 12-anyos na estudyante.

Ayon sa ulat, bandang alas-12:30 ng hapon, sabay na kumain ng tanghalian ang mga estudyante sa loob ng kanilang eskwelahan nang biglang bumigay at bumagsak ang takip ng isang poso negro. Dahil dito, nahulog ang mga ito at bumulusok sa ilalim.

Agad na rumesponde ang mga kawani ng Alfonso Rescue Team at isinugod sa ospital ang mga biktima. Subalit, sa malungkot na pangyayari, isa ang pumanaw habang tatlo ang nagtamo ng mga sugat.

Nakikipag-ugnayan na rin ang pulisya sa eskwelahan upang mabigyang-linaw ang insidente at malaman ang sanhi ng aksidente.

Iran mourns President Raisi against backdrop of public discontent and political uncertainty

Venus L Peñaflor
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Iran mourns President Raisi against backdrop of public discontent and political uncertainty

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates. Thousands of Iranians turned out in Tabriz on Tuesday to mourn President Ebrahim Raisi, who, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven others, died in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border over the weekend. The government has organized days of funerals and processions to honor the deceased leaders and project strength amidst regional and domestic tensions.

State TV broadcast images of mourners dressed in black, beating their chests and walking alongside a truck adorned with white flowers and the national flag, carrying the caskets. “Everyone has come to bid farewell to the martyred president and his companions regardless of their faction, ethnicity, or language,” said Tabriz lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian.

However, the public’s grief appeared subdued compared to the outpouring seen after the deaths of other senior figures, such as Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Analysts noted that the response lacked the emotional intensity of past events, raising questions about Raisi’s popularity and the public’s sentiment towards the current regime.

A Nation in Mourning

Raisi’s body was flown from Tabriz to Tehran airport before being taken to the holy city of Qom and then back to Tehran for a final procession. He will be buried in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday. The processions have been marked by a heavy security presence, reflecting government concerns over public reactions.

The death of Raisi, who was considered a possible successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, introduces significant uncertainty into Iran’s political landscape. “Raisi’s death comes at a moment when the Islamist regime is consolidated,” wrote Alex Vatanka, an Iran expert at the Middle East Institute. “Nonetheless, post-Khamenei Iran suddenly looks far less predictable than it did just a few days ago.”

Political and Economic Crisis

The tragedy comes amid deepening crises between Iran’s clerical leadership and its citizens, driven by tightening social controls, economic hardships, and political repression. Recent history includes a violent crackdown on protests following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian-Kurdish woman, in police custody. This incident, along with widespread corruption and economic mismanagement, has fueled public discontent.

In response to Raisi’s death, Iran declared five days of mourning, encouraging mass participation in public mourning sessions. Government employees, schoolchildren, and other citizens are attending these events, driven by a mix of patriotism, curiosity, and a desire to witness historic moments.

International Reactions and Future Uncertainty

Raisi’s international standing was complicated by U.S. sanctions over his role in mass executions in 1988 and his crackdown on dissent as judiciary chief. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and the UK’s Security Minister Tom Tugendhat expressed reluctance to send condolences, citing Iran’s contentious actions, including supplying drones to Russia for use in Ukraine.

With the June 28 presidential election approaching, Iran’s rulers face the challenge of restoring public enthusiasm to ensure high voter turnout. However, widespread disillusionment with the ruling clerics’ ability to address economic woes and political grievances may dampen participation.

The Assembly of Experts, which includes Raisi, will now play a crucial role in selecting the next supreme leader. The panel’s first session since Raisi’s death featured his portrait among flowers, symbolizing the significant void his passing leaves in Iran’s political hierarchy.

As Iran mourns its president, the nation’s future remains fraught with uncertainty, navigating a complex landscape of internal discontent and geopolitical challenges.

In this photo provided by Fars News Agency, mourners try to touch the coffins of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, top, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, left, and Raisi’s chief bodyguard Gen. Mehdi Mousavi, who were killed in helicopter carsh on Sunday in a mountainous region of the country’s northwest, during a funeral ceremony at the city of Tabriz, Iran, Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Movie review: ‘The Garfield Movie’ is a bizarre animated tale far from pur-fect

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Movie review: ‘The Garfield Movie’ is a bizarre animated tale far from pur-fect

If you’re planning to watch “The Garfield Movie,” be prepared for a surprising twist: the famous orange feline, known for his love of lasagna and disdain for Mondays, finds himself running from bad guys atop a speeding train. Cardio? Not exactly what you’d expect from Garfield.

“The Garfield Movie” attempts to reinvent the comic icon with an origin story that propels him into adventures far removed from his usual antics. Directed by Mark Dindal, this curious animated film features Chris Pratt as the voice of Garfield, the self-centered hero, and Samuel L. Jackson as his estranged father. This unexpected pairing introduces a subplot of abandonment and trauma that purportedly explains Garfield’s insatiable appetite.

The film reunites Garfield with his dubious dad, reminiscent of the plots from “Kung Fu Panda 3” and “Chicken Run.” They get entangled in a criminal plot to raid a corporate dairy and steal thousands of gallons of milk. This is a far cry from the Garfield we know, who is perhaps the most indoor cat in history. Watching him navigate dangers like massive chopping blades and boulders is just plain weird.

Even more bizarre is Odie’s transformation. Traditionally portrayed as a lovable but dim-witted dog, Odie is reimagined here as a highly competent, perhaps even savant-like partner. This deviation from the canon may be jarring for longtime fans.

The movie does have its mildly amusing moments, especially during a heist sequence in the dairy set to the “Mission: Impossible” theme. This is largely due to the gang’s leader, a bull voiced by Ving Rhames, a nod to his role in the franchise. There are also references to “Top Gun,” with Garfield quipping, “I do my own stunts. Me and Tom Cruise.”

The script, penned by Paul A. Kaplan, Mark Torgove, and David Reynolds, anchors the movie in the present day. Garfield uses food delivery apps, watches Catflix, and characters talk about being “self-actualized.” However, the film’s product placement is awkward, notably an Olive Garden plug that feels out of place.

Garfield’s legendary food obsession is exaggerated to new extremes. The filmmakers indulge in scenes of Garfield inhaling thousands of pounds of junk food, with nary a salad in sight. His love of cheese is played up as his “love language,” resulting in some of the laziest writing in the film.

The film features a mini “Ted Lasso” reunion with Hannah Waddingham as a psychotic gang leader and Brett Goldstein as her henchman. Snoop Dogg also makes a cameo as the voice of a one-eyed cat and contributes a song for the credits.

While the animation is visually appealing, particularly the detailed backgrounds, the main characters look less polished and more cartoonish. Jim Davis, Garfield’s creator, serves as an executive producer, suggesting he approved this version of his character. However, the film ultimately feels like a forgettable, unfunny slog. As Garfield himself says, “Bury me in cheese,” which might just be the best place for this film.

“The Garfield Movie,” a Columbia Pictures release, opens in theaters on Friday. It is rated PG for “mild thematic elements, action, and peril” and runs for 101 minutes. It receives one and a half stars out of four.

With inputs from The Associated Press.

Iran’s Supreme Leader appoints Mokhbar as interim president, declares 5 days of mourning following Raisi’s death

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Iran’s Supreme Leader appoints Mokhbar as interim president, declares 5 days of mourning following Raisi’s death

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has declared five days of public mourning following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Khamenei also confirmed that First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will serve as interim president until a new leader is elected.

“I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran,” Khamenei stated in an announcement carried by the official news agency IRNA. “Mokhber will manage the executive branch and is obliged to arrange with the heads of the legislative and judicial branches to elect a new president within a maximum of 50 days.”

According to Article 131 of Iran’s constitution, a council consisting of the first vice president, the speaker of parliament, and the head of the judiciary is responsible for facilitating the election of a new president. Iran now faces a maximum period of 50 days to hold a presidential election to choose Raisi’s successor.

Mokhber, closely aligned with Khamenei, was appointed first vice president in 2021 following Raisi’s election as president. His interim leadership comes at a critical time as Iran navigates both domestic challenges and complex international relations.

The sudden death of Raisi, who was known for his hard-line stance and significant influence in Iran’s political landscape, has left the nation in a state of shock and uncertainty. As the country enters this period of mourning and transition, all eyes will be on the upcoming election and the potential shift in Iran’s leadership and policies.

Iran’s leadership plunged into crisis as the president and foreign minister died in helicopter crash

Venus L Peñaflor
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Iran’s leadership plunged into crisis as the president and foreign minister died in helicopter crash

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were found dead Monday following a helicopter crash in dense fog. The incident has left the Islamic Republic without two of its key leaders at a time of heightened tensions across the Middle East.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei swiftly appointed a little-known vice president as caretaker, asserting that the government remained in control. Despite this reassurance, the deaths of Raisi and Amirabdollahian represent a significant blow to a nation already facing immense pressures both domestically and internationally.

Iran has yet to disclose the cause of the crash or suggest any foul play, maintaining that the helicopter went down in mountainous terrain due to sudden, intense fog. State-run IRNA news agency reported that the Bell helicopter, purchased in the early 2000s, crashed in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, killing all eight people aboard, including high-ranking officials and crew members.

In the capital, Tehran, life continued with businesses open and schools in session, but an increased security presence was evident. The crash occurs amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, with Iran-backed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah actively involved. Last month, Iran itself launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel.

President Raisi, a hard-liner and Khamenei protégé, had been a central figure in Iran’s tough stance against the West, overseeing a nuclear program edging closer to weapons-grade enrichment and supplying drones to Russia in the Ukraine conflict. His tenure saw Iran grapple with mass protests over economic conditions and women’s rights, adding to the current instability.

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blamed U.S. sanctions for the crash, citing the embargo on aircraft and aviation parts that he claims compromised safety standards. “One of the main culprits of yesterday’s tragedy is the United States, which … embargoed the sale of aircraft and aviation parts to Iran and does not allow the people of Iran to enjoy good aviation facilities,” Zarif stated.

The international community reacted swiftly, with condolences pouring in from world leaders. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were among those expressing their sorrow. Raisi, 63, was returning from Iran’s border with Azerbaijan, where he had inaugurated a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

Inside Iran, Khamenei declared five days of public mourning. However, many Iranians are preoccupied with the ongoing economic turmoil and regional conflicts, including recent hostilities with Pakistan. The crash also sparks concerns about the country’s future leadership, with Khamenei, 85, holding the final say in state matters. Raisi had been considered a potential successor to Khamenei, along with Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, though there is resistance to a hereditary succession.

First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber has been named caretaker and will oversee the government’s functions until a new presidential election, which must be called within 50 days according to the constitution. An emergency Cabinet meeting was held, affirming the government’s commitment to continuity and stability.

Raisi’s presidency, marked by strained international relations and internal dissent, has now ended abruptly. He was only the second Iranian president to die in office, following the assassination of Mohammad Ali Rajai in 1981. Raisi’s death leaves Iran at a critical juncture, grappling with both immediate grief and long-term uncertainties about its leadership and future direction.

Rescue teams work at the crash site of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Varzaghan, northwestern Iran, on Monday, May 20, 2024. Raisi, the foreign minister, and several other officials were found dead hours after the helicopter went down in a foggy, mountainous region. (Azin Haghighi, Moj News Agency via AP)

Manager, patay sa pamamaril ng security guard sa Cavite

Arman B. Cambe
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Manager, patay sa pamamaril ng security guard sa Cavite

BACOOR CITY, Cavite. Napatay ang isang manager matapos barilin ng dalawang beses sa ulo ng officer-in-charge ng isang security agency na siya ring security guard ng kanilang subdivision Villa Felicia, Brgy. Bayanan, lungsod na ito.

Ayon sa imbestigasyon, sinita ang biktima dahil sa mga dala nitong construction materials.

Dead-on-the-spot ang biktima na kinilalang si alyas Richard, residente ng Blk. 16 Lot 22 Kosmos St. Villa Felicia Subdivision, Brgy. Bayanan, Bacoor City. Siya ay binaril ng dalawang beses sa ulo ng suspek na kinilalang si alyas Rudy, 53-anyos, OIC/security guard ng Star Matrix Security Agency na nakatalaga sa gate ng Villa Felicia Subdivision, at residente ng Brgy. Molino 2, Bacoor City, Cavite.

Batay sa imbestigasyon ng pulisya, naganap ang insidente bandang 9:10 ng umaga. Papasok na sana sa kanilang subdivision ang biktima sakay ng kanyang puting Mazda 323 Sedan nang harangin at sitahin siya ng security guard sa gate dahil sa kanyang mga dalang construction materials.

Nagkaroon ng mainitang sagutan na nauwi sa pagtatalo at pagka-pikon ng suspek. Dahil dito, binaril ng dalawang beses sa ulo ng guwardya ang biktima gamit ang kanyang 9mm na baril bago mabilis na tumakas.

Patuloy pa rin ang pagtugis ng pulisya sa tumakas na suspek.

ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu

Venus L Peñaflor
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ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu

JERUSALEM. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Monday that he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in connection with their actions during the seven-month war between Israel and Hamas.

Karim Khan stated that he believes Netanyahu, his defense minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders — Yehia Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh — are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel.

The prosecutor must request the warrants from a pre-trial panel of three judges, who typically take two months to review the evidence and determine if the proceedings can move forward.

Israel is not a member of the ICC, and even if the arrest warrants are issued, Netanyahu and Gallant do not face any immediate risk of prosecution. However, Khan’s announcement deepens Israel’s isolation as it continues its war, and the threat of arrest could make it difficult for Israeli leaders to travel abroad.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz described the chief prosecutor’s decision to seek arrest warrants against Israel’s leaders as “a historic disgrace that will be remembered forever.” He said he would form a special committee to fight back against any such action and work with world leaders to ensure that any warrants are not enforced against Israel’s leaders.

Benny Gantz, a former military chief and member of Israel’s War Cabinet with Netanyahu and Gallant, harshly criticized Khan’s announcement, saying Israel fights with “one of the strictest” moral codes and has a robust judiciary capable of investigating itself. “The State of Israel is waging one of the just wars fought in modern history following a reprehensible massacre perpetrated by terrorist Hamas on the 7th of October,” he said. “The prosecutor’s position to apply for arrest warrants is in itself a crime of historic proportion to be remembered for generations.”

The Hamas militant group denounced the ICC prosecutor’s request to seek the arrests of its leaders. In a statement, Hamas accused the prosecutor of trying to “equate the victim with the executioner.” It asserted its right to resist Israeli occupation, including “armed resistance.” It also criticized the court for seeking the arrests of only two Israeli leaders and argued that warrants should be sought for other Israeli leaders.

Both Sinwar and Deif are believed to be hiding in Gaza as Israel tries to track them down. However, Haniyeh, the supreme leader of the Islamic militant group, is based in Qatar and frequently travels across the region.

Israel launched its war in response to an October 7 cross-border attack by Hamas that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. The Israeli offensive has killed over 35,000 Palestinians, at least half of them women and children, according to the latest estimates by Gaza health officials. The Israeli offensive has also triggered a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, displacing roughly 80% of the population and leaving hundreds of thousands of people on the brink of starvation, according to U.N. officials.

Speaking of the Israeli actions, Khan said in a statement that “the effects of the use of starvation as a method of warfare, together with other attacks and collective punishment against the civilian population of Gaza are acute, visible and widely known. … They include malnutrition, dehydration, profound suffering and an increasing number of deaths among the Palestinian population, including babies, other children, and women.”

The United Nations and other aid agencies have repeatedly accused Israel of hindering aid deliveries throughout the war. Israel denies this, saying there are no restrictions on aid entering Gaza and accusing the United Nations of failing to distribute aid. The U.N. says aid workers have repeatedly come under Israeli fire, and also says ongoing fighting and a security vacuum have impeded deliveries.

Regarding the Hamas actions on October 7, Khan, who visited the region in December, said that he saw for himself “the devastating scenes of these attacks and the profound impact of the unconscionable crimes charged in the applications filed today. Speaking with survivors, I heard how the love within a family, the deepest bonds between a parent and a child, were contorted to inflict unfathomable pain through calculated cruelty and extreme callousness. These acts demand accountability.”

After a brief period of international support for its war, Israel has faced increasing criticism as the war has dragged on and the death toll has climbed.

Israel is also facing a South African case in the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide. Israel denies those charges.

Khan’s request for warrants in the Israel-Gaza conflict comes 14 months after the court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for abductions of children from Ukraine.

706 people named Kyle got together in Texas, but it wasn’t enough for a world record

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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706 people named Kyle got together in Texas, but it wasn’t enough for a world record

KYLE, Texas. How many people named Kyle can fit in one place? For the city of Kyle, Texas, not enough to break a world record.

On Saturday, 706 Kyles of all ages assembled in a park in this suburb of Austin, but it wasn’t sufficient to surpass the current world record. The record is held by a town in Bosnia, where 2,325 people named Ivan gathered in 2017, according to Guinness World Records.

This is not the first time the Kyles have attempted to outnumber the Ivans. Last year, the official count at what has become known as the “Gathering of the Kyles” was 1,490, still not enough to beat the record in the fast-growing Texas city, located about 37 miles south of Austin, the state’s capital.

Kyle is not among the most popular names in the U.S., according to the Social Security Administration, which tracks the names given to girls and boys each year. The most recent data shows that Kyle ranked 416th among male names in 2023, while Ivan ranked 153rd.

Despite falling short of the record, the event demonstrated the strong community spirit and determination of the residents of Kyle. The city continues to embrace this unique tradition, bringing together Kyles from near and far for a fun and memorable gathering.

Will AI replace radiologists in X-ray interpretation, or simply elevate their capabilities to new heights?

Venus L Peñaflor
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Will AI replace radiologists in X-ray interpretation, or simply elevate their capabilities to new heights?

WASHINGTON. As artificial intelligence (AI) technology rapidly evolves, the question on many professionals’ minds is: Will AI replace human expertise, or will it enhance it? For radiologists, this question has been looming for a decade, as advanced algorithms promise to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in interpreting medical scans.

AI’s potential in healthcare, particularly in radiology, is a subject of both optimism and caution. The technology can now analyze scans, suggest diagnoses, and even draft reports, offering unprecedented support to radiologists. “Some of the AI techniques are so good, frankly, I think we should be doing them now,” said Dr. Ronald Summers, a radiologist and AI researcher at the National Institutes of Health. Summers’ lab has developed AI programs to detect various conditions, yet these innovations have not seen widespread adoption due to what he describes as the “culture of medicine.”

Since the 1990s, radiologists have utilized computers to enhance imaging. However, modern AI can go further, interpreting images and providing diagnostic insights. Despite the FDA approving over 700 AI algorithms for medical use, with more than 75% in radiology, only about 2% of radiology practices have adopted these technologies.

Skepticism among radiologists stems from concerns about the real-world testing of AI, transparency regarding its operations, and the demographics of training datasets. “If we don’t know on what cases the AI was tested, or whether those cases are similar to the kinds of patients we see in our practice, there’s just a question in everyone’s mind as to whether these are going to work for us,” noted Dr. Curtis Langlotz, a radiologist at Stanford University.

Currently, all FDA-approved AI programs require human oversight. In Europe, however, regulators approved the first fully automated software for reviewing and reporting on chest X-rays in 2022. The urgency for such technology in Europe is high, with some hospitals facing significant backlogs due to a shortage of radiologists.

In the U.S., fully automated AI screening remains on the horizon, primarily due to radiologists’ hesitance to relinquish control to algorithms. “We try to tell them they’re overtreating people and they’re wasting a ton of time and resources,” said Chad McClennan, CEO of Koios Medical, which provides AI tools for ultrasound imaging.

AI’s promise extends to enhancing accuracy and reducing costs. Research indicates that radiologists often disagree on diagnoses, with one study finding a 30% disagreement rate among physicians reviewing the same breast scans. About 20% of breast cancers are missed during routine mammograms, underscoring the potential impact of AI in improving detection rates.

In the short term, experts anticipate AI will function like an autopilot system in aviation, performing crucial tasks but always under human supervision. “I will tell patients, ‘I looked at it, and the computer looked at it, and we both agree,’” said Dr. Laurie Margolies of Mount Sinai hospital network, illustrating how AI can provide additional reassurance to patients.

Preliminary results from a Swedish study involving 80,000 women showed that a single radiologist working with AI detected 20% more cancers than two radiologists working without AI. This approach also reduced the workload by 44%, addressing the workforce shortage in breast radiology.

Despite these promising developments, the role of radiologists remains critical. “If an automated algorithm misses a cancer, that’s going to be very negative for trust in the caregiver,” warned Dr. Kristina Lang of Lund University, emphasizing the importance of human oversight.

Radiologists continue to double-check AI outputs to avoid liability issues, potentially diminishing the benefits of reduced workload and burnout. “Only an extremely accurate, reliable algorithm would allow radiologists to truly step away from the process,” said Dr. Saurabh Jha of the University of Pennsylvania.

As AI technology advances, the balance between human expertise and machine assistance will define the future of radiology, potentially transforming it from a field at risk of automation to one enhanced by the precise and tireless capabilities of AI.

The Iranian president’s helicopter crashes in a foggy, mountainous region

EDGARDO HERNAL
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The Iranian president’s helicopter crashes in a foggy, mountainous region

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates. A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreign minister, and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray.

The likely crash comes as Iran, under Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, launched an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel last month and has enriched uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. The country has also faced years of mass protests against its Shiite theocracy over an ailing economy and women’s rights, making this moment highly sensitive for Tehran as the Israel-Hamas war inflames the wider Middle East.

Raisi was traveling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province. State TV reported a “hard landing” near Jolfa, a city on the border with Azerbaijan, approximately 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran. Later reports placed the incident farther east near the village of Uzi, but details remained contradictory.

Traveling with Raisi were Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, and other officials and bodyguards, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. One local government official described the event as a “crash,” while others referred to it as either a “hard landing” or an “incident.”

Neither IRNA nor state TV offered information on Raisi’s condition in the hours following the crash. However, hard-liners urged the public to pray for him. State TV aired images of hundreds of faithful, some with hands outstretched in supplication, praying at Imam Reza Shrine in the city of Mashhad, one of Shiite Islam’s holiest sites, as well as in Qom and other locations across the country. State television’s main channel aired the prayers nonstop.

In Tehran, a group of men kneeling on the side of the street clasped strands of prayer beads and watched a video of Raisi praying, some of them visibly weeping. “If anything happens to him, we’ll be heartbroken,” said one of the men, Mehdi Seyedi. “May the prayers work and may he return to the arms of the nation safe and sound.”

In comments aired on state TV, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi stated: “The esteemed president and company were on their way back aboard some helicopters and one of the helicopters was forced to make a hard landing due to the bad weather and fog.” He added that various rescue teams were en route to the region, but poor weather conditions, including fog and heavy rain, were hampering efforts.

A rescue helicopter attempted to reach the crash site but could not land due to heavy mist, emergency services spokesman Babak Yektaparast told IRNA. Late in the evening, Turkey’s defense ministry announced it had sent an unmanned aerial vehicle and was preparing to send a helicopter with night vision capabilities to join the search-and-rescue efforts.

Long after sunset, Iranian government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi acknowledged the challenging conditions of the search. “It is the right of the people and the media to be aware of the latest news about the president’s helicopter accident, but considering the coordinates of the incident site and the weather conditions, there is ‘no’ new news whatsoever until now,” he wrote on the social platform X. “In these moments, patience, prayer, and trust in relief groups are the way forward.”

Khamenei himself also urged the public to pray. “We hope that God the Almighty returns the dear president and his colleagues in full health to the arms of the nation,” Khamenei said, drawing an “amen” from the worshippers he was addressing.

Raisi, 63, a hard-liner who formerly led the country’s judiciary, is viewed as a protégé of Khamenei. Some analysts have suggested he could replace the 85-year-old leader after Khamenei’s death or resignation. Raisi had been on the border with Azerbaijan earlier Sunday to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. The dam is the third one that the two nations built on the Aras River, despite chilly relations between the nations.

Iran flies a variety of helicopters, but international sanctions make it difficult to obtain parts for them. Its military air fleet also largely dates back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. IRNA published images it described as Raisi taking off in what resembled a Bell helicopter with a blue-and-white paint scheme.

Raisi won Iran’s 2021 presidential election, a vote that saw the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history. He is sanctioned by the U.S. in part over his involvement in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988.

Rescue team vehicles are seen near the site of the helicopter crash carrying President Raisi, the country’s foreign minister, and other officials. The chopper apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray. (Azin Haghighi/Moj News Agency via AP)
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