Three people died in a helicopter crash on Saturday in mountains near Lydenburg in Mpumalanga, said police.

Captain Elizabeth Rambuwani said three people had died but had not yet been identified because they had been burnt beyond recognition.

She said the accident happened some time after 1pm on Saturday when the helicopter became tangled in electric wires.

It crashed on a mountain range surrounding a mine situated between Lydenburg and Ohrigstad.

Rambuwani said police were on the scene on Saturday night waiting for the civil aviation authority to bring documents to identify the helicopter.

Sapa