8 survive after plane crashes in Peru jungle

Liam, May 26: Eight people, including a pregnant woman, survived when the Peruvian air force plane in which they were traveling crashed in the remote northeast of the country, killing 12 others on board, officials said.

The De Havilland Twin Otter aircraft plowed into dense jungle on Thursday night about an hour after leaving the city of Iquitos in the vast Amazon region of Loreto for the city of Pucallpa.

''A police helicopter ... found one survivor and then a marine infantry patrol ... found seven more,'' Defense Minister Allan Wagner told reporters yesterday.

Regional President Ivan Vazquez told Reuters there had been 20 people on board the plane, including three crew members. He said earlier there had been 13 aboard.

''According to witness accounts, the plane crashed and split in two when it hit a hill. The survivors were in the back end of the aircraft,'' Vazquez said.

He said he had spoken to one survivor, a women seven months pregnant, who said the plane had been caught in a storm.

''It's a miracle anyone survived,'' Vazquez said.

Reuters>