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KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A recovery mission will resume at daylight in Nepal at the spot where the wreckage of a U.S. Marine helicopter was found. It disappeared this week during a relief mission in the country hit by two major quakes in the past three weeks.
Six Marines and two soldiers from Nepal were on board. Officials say three bodies were found, and that there's little likelihood that anyone survived.
Nepal's defense secretary says the wreckage "was found in pieces." A separate team sent by the U.S. Marines identified the wreckage as the missing helicopter.
The commander of a joint task force led by the Marines says it was a 'very severe crash." He says extreme weather and difficult terrain are hampering efforts to work at the crash site.
The U.S. relief mission was deployed soon after a magnitude-7.8 quake hit April 25, killing more than 8,200 people. It was followed by a magnitude-7.3 quake on Tuesday that killed 117 people and injured 2,800.
The U.N. General Assembly today called for urgent assistance to help earthquake survivors and to rebuild Nepal. The U.N. wants $415 million to be contributed for essential needs in Nepal over the next three months.
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182-a-05-(Lieutenant General John Wissler, commander of the task force delivering relief supplies in Nepal, at news conference)-"at this time"-Lieutenant General John Wissler, who commands the task force delivering relief supplies in Nepal, says the missing helicopter's wreckage has been found in rough terrain. ((longer version of cut in wrap)) (15 May 2015)
<<CUT *182 (05/15/15)££ 00:05 "at this time"
183-a-09-(Lieutenant General John Wissler, commander of the task force delivering relief supplies in Nepal, at news conference)-"of the remains"-Lieutenant General John Wissler, who commands the task force delivering relief supplies in Nepal, says an investigation continues. (15 May 2015)
<<CUT *183 (05/15/15)££ 00:09 "of the remains"
APPHOTO DEL104: A Nepalese army chopper, that spotted the suspected wreckage of a U.S. Marine helicopter, lands at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, May 15, 2015. Nepalese rescuers on Friday found three bodies near the wreckage of the chopper that was carrying six Marines and two Nepalese army soldiers. The U.S. Marines said they were sending their own rescue team to assess the wreckage and determine if it was the missing helicopter, the UH-1 "Huey." (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (15 May 2015)
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APPHOTO DEL103: Nepalese army soldiers prepare to leave for a rescue mission to the site where the suspected wreckage of a U.S. Marine helicopter, that disappeared earlier this week while on a relief mission in the earthquake-hit Himalayan nation, was spotted, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, May 15, 2015. Nepalese rescuers on Friday found three bodies near the wreckage of the chopper that was carrying six Marines and two Nepalese army soldiers. The U.S. Marines said they were sending their own rescue team to assess the wreckage and determine if it was the missing helicopter, the UH-1 "Huey." (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (15 May 2015)
<<APPHOTO DEL103 (05/15/15)££
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