Six Nato soldiers have been killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, the worst crash since 30 soldiers died last August.

A Nato statement said the helicopter came down in the south of the country.

Nato said no insurgent activity had been reported in the area at the time. The cause of Thursday’s crash is now being investigated.

No further details of the crash would be released until the families of those on board had been informed, Nato said.

In August 2011, 30 soldiers, including 22 US Navy Seal commandos, died in a helicopter crash in the east of Afghanistan.