Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong on July 8 sent a message of condolences to his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung over the loss of lives caused by a military helicopter crash a day ago in Hanoi.

On behalf of the Lao Party, government and people, he conveyed deepest sympathy to the Vietnamese Party, government and people as well as the bereaved families of the victims.

The accident occurred in Hoa Lac, the outlying district of Thach That during a parachute training exercise, killing 16 military men on the spot and injuring five others.

Two of the injured later died at hospital and three are in intensive care.-VNA