The death toll in a helicopter crash in Yemen's northern province of Saada rose to 13, the state-run Saba news agency reported on Sunday.

"The helicopter went down on Sunday at Kahlan region in Saada province immediately after it took off," the agency quoted a source of the Defense Ministry as saying.

The source added: "The crash was because of a technical problem. "

The source said the chopper hit a military vehicle when it touched the ground, leaving 13 soldiers dead, including the chopper's four crew members.

"The helicopter was heading to the capital city of Sanaa to transfer seven injured soldiers to hospitals there for receiving treatment," said the source.