South Korean President Lee Myung-bak sent a message of condolences to Peruvian President Ollanta Humala on Monday over the deaths in a helicopter crash in Peru that killed 14 people, including eight South Koreans.

In the message, Lee expressed deep condolences to the victims and their families and asked the Peruvian government for support in handling the aftermath of the crash, according to presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha.

The helicopter had gone missing Wednesday while returning from a trip to a potential site for a hydropower plant near Mazuco in southeastern Peru. The South Koreans on board were employees of Samsung C&T, the Korea Water Resources Corp., the Korea Engineering Consultants Corp. and Seoyeong Engineering.

The victims also included three Peruvians, one Dutchman, one Swede and one Czech. (Yonhap News)