(AFP) Four employees of Kazakhstan 's Ministry of Emergency Situations died Thursday in a helicopter crash, authorities said in the Central Asian country.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Emergency Situations told AFP that the crash of the "Mi8" helicopter, which dates back to the Soviet era, occurred not far from the village of Chapurino in the western (northwest) Kazakhstan region, ten kilometers from the Russian border.

The same source added, "There were six people in the helicopter, five of whom were crew members and a representative of Kaztransoil," which is an official oil transport company, pointing out that the four dead were employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The Mi8 helicopter is usually used to transport passengers and equipment to isolated places or to remote, sparsely populated areas.

The accident occurred while the helicopter was flying over an oil pipeline, according to the source.

Kazakhstan is the first economy in Central Asia, with an area five times the size of France and rich in hydrocarbons.

Helicopter and small plane accidents are common in the countries of the former Soviet Union.