Possible death of Mexican governor in helicopter crash: Report

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday reported the possible death of the governor of the state of Puebla, Martha Erika Alonso, and her husband and ex-Gov. Rafael Moreno Valle, in a helicopter crash.

"I'm receiving information about an accident in Puebla, the crash of a helicopter. Still to be confirmed is that it was Gov. Martha Erika Alonso and ex-Gov. Rafael Moreno Valle. I have ordered the entire government to act immediately" on the matter, Lopez Obrador wrote on his Twitter account.

So far, no official has confirmed whether or not the couple were on the aircraft, although numerous media outlets have reported that the pair indeed perished in the crash, reports Efe.

Senate President Marti Batres said that he was dismayed over the possible deaths of Alonso and her husband, who currently serves in the Senate.

"I express my dismay over the possible deaths of... the governor of Puebla and my Senate colleague," he said.

According to preliminary reporting the helicopter crashed in croplands between the towns of Juan C. Bonilla and Tlaltenango.

Moreno Valle governed Puebla from 2010-2016 and Alonso took over that post on December 14 after a five-month election controversy during which the results of the vote were up in the air.

--IANS

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