All-out chaos engulfs Lagos neighborhood after plane crash

LAGOS — Chaos broke out in the densely-populated Lagos neighbourhood where a passenger jet crashed Sunday, as rescue workers faced heavy crowds and aggressive soldiers while trying to access smoldering wreckage. All 153 people on board the Dana Air flight were presumed dead and more were believed to have been killed on the ground after the plane plowed into the impoverished neighbourhood near the airport in the city of some 15 million. Thousands of onlookers had partially blocked access to the crash site, prompting soldiers to try to clear the area out. They used rubber whips, their fists and even threw a wood plank at those crowded around. The strong-arm tactics likely did more harm than good. Looking to evade the troops’ aggression, people took off in several directions, trampling their neighbours as they tried to avoid being crushed themselves. Some locals snaked a fire hose hoisted on their shoulders from a truck parked on the road...

continue reading

Heavy rains slow search in Nigeria plane crash

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Heavy seasonal rains and strong winds in Nigeria have torn through the site where a commercial airliner with 153 people onboard crashed, slowing rescue and investigation efforts. The heavy rains began Tuesday morning before dawn, flooding roads and bringing down power lines and trees in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city. Yushau Shuaib, a spokesman for Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency, said the rains had stopped searchers from returning to the crash site near Lagos' Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Shuaib said rescuers also were worried a three-story apartment building struck by the MD-83 aircraft might collapse. The plane crashed Sunday, killing all 153 people onboard. Rescuers worry more people likely were killed on the ground. Tuesday 5 June 2012 http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gHmjSdl8Uk9xPfxY3zJOlzkLiLkA?docId=7c9fd5e22a454c959ee8a77504f4d...

continue reading

Lagos to conduct DNA on crash victims for identification

FOLLOWING the manner bodies of the victims of the DANA Airline plane crash was burnt beyond recognition, the Lagos State government, on Monday, said it will conduct DNA test on some of the recovered...

continue reading

SAR efforts end, while Sukhoi crash investigation begins

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The search and rescue efforts with regard to the Sukhoi Superjet 100 victims` remains and the ill-fated aircraft`s wreckage were declared to be completed, after the finding of the plane`s flight data recorder (FDR) on May 30 and the transferring of the victims` remains to their families on May 23, 2012. "As we have found the FDR, I declare that the evacuation process is completed. Concerning the plane`s debris, I leave it to the Sukhoi company," the chief of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Vice Marshal Daryatmo, stated at Halim Perdanakusuma air force base, East Jakarta, on May 31, 2012. The Russian-made SSJ-100 crashed into Mount Salak, between Sukabumi and Bogor districts, West Java, on May 9, 2012, during a demonstration flight. All the 45 passengers and crew members on board the plane were killed in the accident. The terrain of the crash site was extremely difficult. The plane had hit a steep...

continue reading

Two dead, 32 displaced as mudslide sweeps through Sironko

Residents say unusual torrential rains pounded the area for about three hours, destroying seven houses, gardens and animals and burying two people under the rubble. The Bugimwera LCI chairman, Mr Stephen Makwasi, identified the dead as Francis Wamboga, 42, and Zita Nafuna, 72, whom he said were reportedly in their house at the time of the disaster. Rescue measures The Sironko RDC, Mr Hussein Matanda, said from the assessment carried out, about 130 homesteads also need to be evacuated from the areas of Bugimwera and Gombe at the slopes of Mt. Elgon as the rain intensifies. “It is sad that the two people who were buried under the rubble were in their house at about 3am when the mudslides rolled down. Our appeal is that people be evacuated from the slopes of Mt. Elgon to the lowlands for safety,” Mr Matanda said yesterday. Ms Diana Nandawula, the eastern regional police spokesperson, confirmed the deaths and asked residents to relocate. The...

continue reading

EULEX to Exhume Suspected Mass Grave in Mitrovica

EULEX is waiting for a green light from a court in order to start exhuming a suspected mass grave in northern Kosovo, after local residents found two bodies during construction works. Mortal remains of at least two people were discovered during construction works at a private property in the southern part of Mitrovica, near former Yugoslav Army barracks. EU rule of law mission to Kosovo, EULEX, experts from the Department of Forensic Medicine, together with investigators of the War Crimes Investigation Unit, visited the site in Mitrovica on Saturday. Local inhabitants and associations of the families of missing persons, suspect that the two bodies found wrapped up in a blanket at the site, are victims of the Kosovo war. Blerim Krasniqi, EULEX spokesperson, told Balkan Insight on Monday that EULEX is waiting for the detailed analysis. “Bone samples were taken in order to determine if they are of forensic interest, meaning if they...

continue reading

Mass grave discovered in southern Colombia

Colombian authorities discovered at least 300 unidentified body remains in what they believe to be a graveyard belonging to the FARC in the southern department of Caqueta, independent newspaper La Nacion...

continue reading