Almaty, March 12 (IANS) Eight people were killed in a helicopter crash in eastern Kazakhstan, an official said Friday.

The wreckage of the Mi-8 helicopter, which went missing Thursday, was found in Urdzhar area, a local emergency bureau official said, adding that all the eight people onboard, including two local officials and two doctors, were found dead.

The chopper lost contact with the air control tower Thursday when it was on a rescue mission with another helicopter in East Kazakhstan province, Xinhua reported.

Northern and eastern Kazakhstan have been hit by freezing weather and heavy snow in recent days.