A helicopter has crashed in an area to the west of the town of Monchique, leaving one dead and two injured.
The accident happened at around 2.30 pm today according to the National Authority for Civil Protection.
The helicopter which belongs to Heliportugal crashed in Vale de Água, near the road between Casais and Marmelete.
The emergency relief operation consisted of 20 personnel, including 14 firefighters, backed up by nine vehicles.
According to the Relief Operations Command for the Faro district the helicopter had collided with electrical cables, causing it to crash.
Heliportugal was established in 1982 and lists firefighting, offshore services, filming, ambulance and powerline maintenance among its services.
It has not yet been confirmed by the company as to what role the helicopter was undertaking when it crashed but unofficial reports sated that the company was working for EDP, or REN, checking medium voltage power cables.
The alert was given by forestry workers. According to their reports the helicopter crashed into a hard to reach area and exploded as it hit the ground.
