One person has died and two others were injured after a helicopter crashed into a river in Indonesia while on a mission to put out forest fires.

The accident occurred in South Kalimantan province during a firefighting operation. According to the Indonesian Disaster Management Agency, one Indonesian crew member was killed, while the other two people on board, an Australian and a New Zealander, were alive and were transported to hospital for medical treatment.

Indonesian authorities identified the victim as Yayan Supyansuri. The two rescued people are Michael John Betteridge, an Australian citizen, and Hugh Andreu John Page, a New Zealand citizen.

Footage released by authorities and shared on social media shows the helicopter, a Super Puma H-225, flying over the river with a special bucket for transporting and dumping water on the fires. Moments later, the aircraft loses control and plunges headfirst into the water.

Other footage shows rescue teams approaching the helicopter, which had remained partially submerged in the river, via boats.

Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing, while authorities have announced that firefighting operations will continue. The helicopter belonged to a private company, contracted by authorities to help deal with the situation.

The incident comes just days after another air crash in Central Kalimantan province, where a helicopter crashed during a similar operation, killing three crew members. The Indonesian military said it had recovered the aircraft's black box, which is expected to help shed light on the circumstances of the tragedy.

Indonesia has been battling massive forest and peatland fires for months, fueled by dry conditions and the El Niño climate phenomenon. The flames have sent a thick cloud of toxic smoke billowing over entire cities and causing respiratory problems on the islands of Kalimantan and Sumatra.

Air pollution has also spread to neighboring countries, Malaysia and Singapore, raising public health concerns. In an effort to cope with the situation, several foreign countries have offered assistance, including Australia, which has sent planes and 20 people, including pilots and medical personnel.