JAYAPURA

Five police on a mission to help flood victims in Papua were killed on Thursday when their plane crashed into a tree during an emergency landing, police said.

The aircraft crashed in Nabire district of Papua province, police spokesman Wachyono said.

“Five police were killed in the accident. The airplane hit a tree while trying to make an emergency landing during bad weather,” he said.

At least 148 people were killed earlier this month when flash floods hit Teluk Wondama district of West Papua province following torrential downpours.