Four of seven helicopter crash victims farewelled in western Argentina

Family and neighbors in Argentina's San Juan province bid farewell to four of the seven victims of a helicopter crash that occurred last Wednesday. The victims were en route to assist in combating a forest fire in the neighboring La Rioja province when the aircraft went down.

The funeral procession began at the Cathedral of San Juan, winding through the provincial capital's streets to the main cemetery. There, Carlos Heredia, director of Civil Protection; Germán Videla, deputy chief of the San Juan Police; Rubén Castro, chief of the Police Fire Department; and Jorge Carbajal, deputy chief of Firefighters, received their final respects.

Family, friends, security force members, and numerous residents accompanied the procession, applauding the coffins in recognition of the officials' service. The tribute included a guard of honor and floral offerings from various public and private organizations. Following the ceremony, the caskets were moved to a crypt for a private service before interment.

The pilot, Matías Valenzuela, and two firefighters from the Federal Emergency Agency (AFE), Andrés Bosch and Rodrigo Aimetta, will be honored in separate ceremonies organized by their families. The Bell 412 helicopter, contracted by the AFE, crashed in the Ischigualasto provincial park area. The exact causes of the accident are currently under investigation.