The governor of the Mexican state of Puebla and her husband, a former governor and senator, died in a helicopter crash on Christmas eve, Mexican authorities have confirmed.

Governor Martha Erika Alonso and Senator Rafael Moreno died when their helicopter went down outside of Puebla on Monday. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed reports of the tragedy.

“Terrible news,” said Senate leader Ricardo Monreal Avila. “We are in sadness and pain after this tragedy.”

There is no information yet what might have caused the crash, which took place near the town of Santa María Coronango.

#Entérate Confirman el fallecimiento de Rafael Moreno Valle y la gobernadora de #Puebla Martha Erika Alonso al desplomarse su #helicóptero. Con información de Julio Vargas. pic.twitter.com/8xeYBXMsgs — Latitud Megalópolis (@Latitud_mx) December 24, 2018

Dos personas murieron calcinadas este #lunes tras desplome de un #helicóptero que surcaba el territorio poblano. De acuerdo con el presidente @lopezobrador_ los tripulantes: la gobernadora de Puebla, Martha Erika Alonso, y su esposo, Rafael Moreno Vallehttps://t.co/LoHCysTzdl — El Sol del Centro (@ElSoldelCentro_) December 24, 2018

Alonso had been in office for only 10 days. She won the election in July to become the first female governor in the history of Puebla, and was sworn in on December 14.

#Entérate El #helicóptero donde fallecieron el ex gobernador Rafael Moreno Valle y su esposa, la gobernadora de #Puebla, Martha Erika Alonso, se desplomó en el municipio de Santa María #Coronango, luego de despegar de la capital de esa entidad. pic.twitter.com/jzr8hWRyxk — Latitud Megalópolis (@Latitud_mx) December 25, 2018

Moreno had served as governor between 2011 and January 2017, and was a member of the Mexican Senate. Both he and Alonso were members of the conservative National Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional, PAN). Party leader Marko Cortes expressed condolences over the deaths of Alonso, Moreno and others on board the helicopter.

#Helicóptero se desploma en Santa María Coronango, Puebla. Reportan que en él viajaban Martha Erika Alonso y Rafael Moreno Valle, la información aún no se confirma👉🏻https://t.co/s5os9OhHuWpic.twitter.com/lRxf1XF6OG — Capital 21 (@Capital_21) December 24, 2018

Lamento profundamente el accidente fatal en el que perdieron la vida Martha Ericka Alonso, Rafael Moreno Valle y otras personas. Que descansen en paz. @AcciónNacional está de luto. — Marko Cortés (@MarkoCortes) December 24, 2018

Puebla is one of 31 Mexican states, located due east of Mexico City. It has an estimated population of over 6 million residents.

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