Plane crash victims to be buried in Namibia

Some families of the 33 victims who died in Mozambique Airlines Flight TM 470 that crashed in Kavango-East in November last year have opted to have the remains buried in Namibia.

That was one of the options given to the families by the Namibian government after the National Forensic Science Institute (NFSI) had identified the remains.

On Friday, the NFSI, through Namibian Police Major-General James Tjivikua, announced at a press briefing that they have managed to positively identify the remains of 16 of the 33 crash victims.

Tjivikua said the families of nine of the victims identified so far have asked for the remains to be repatriated.

NFSI Director Dr Paul Ludik said the victims’ families were given the option to have the partial or full remains sent back to their countries of origin for burial.

The remains of five victims have been repatriated for burial.

Ludik would not make public their names, age, sex or nationality, saying only their families and governments could do so.

“In some instances the bodies have been handed over, and in some instances the families have preferred not to have them back. These families will now guide us as to how and when they will be ready to receive the remains,” said Ludik.

He said the 42-member forensic team, which included foreign experts doing DNA analysis to identify the crash victims, has been reduced.

Ludik said the process of identification is likely to be completed only after all reference samples given by relatives are compared with the body parts collected at the crash site.

“Considering all factors involved, we anticipate we are in the final stages of the overall process,” Ludik said.

Tjivikua added that the wreckage recovery teams, including the airline-appointed Kenyon insurance, surveyed the crash site on January 16. The teams will now draft a plan to remove the wreckage by next month.

Tuesday 21 January 2014

http://sun.com.na/accidents/crash-victims-be-buried-in-namibia.61573

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21 missing in Omaha plant fire

Firefighters are searching an accident site at a Nebraska industrial plant for bodies, the interim Omaha fire chief said Monday.

Bernard Kanger said there were 17 survivors and some deaths at the plant after a fire and partial building collapse.

"There are fatalities, we're not going to release the number of those fatalities at this time simply because we have not had the opportunity to clear the entire structure," Kranger said.

There were 38 people in the building at the time of the incident, Kanger said, but it was unclear how many of the missing had died because emergency workers were still going through the building looking for bodies.

"I just heard a crack pop and big ball of fire, and I just took off running when I heard the first crack," worker Jamar White told CNN affiliate KETV. "That's all I could do was get out of the way and make sure I was OK."

Of the 17 survivors, four were sent to hospitals with critical wounds while six other people had non-life-threatening injuries but were sent for treatment. Seven people at the International Nutrition plant refused treatment, leaving 21 people either dead or unaccounted for, Kranger said.

Another employee told KETV that the ceiling collapsed.

"I heard the explosion and stuff started falling, so I ducked for cover," Nate Lawis said. "It was pitch black in there. All I could see was fire. I had to feel my way out of the place. I couldn't see anything."

At least one firefighter also was injured when he cut his hand.

"Because of the significant collapse and potential risk to our individuals, we had to pull everybody out of the structure and we have to call in specialized teams that can secure and shore up the building in order to allow us to completely clear the structure and declare that we've found all of the individuals that may have been in the building at the time of this incident," Kranger said.

An urban search-and-rescue task force was activated by Nebraska Emergency Management.

The incident happened at a company that produces feed and other products for livestock and poultry about 10 a.m. CT.

Rescuers first had to to shore up the building to make it safe to begin their search, Kanger said.

Tuesday 21 Jsnuary 2014

http://www.kpax.com/news/21-missing-or-dead-in-omaha-plant-fire/

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Longboat capsize: Death toll now 10

The death toll in the boat mishap here last Saturday rose to 10 today with the recovery of another body from the Lassa River.

The body of a 60-year-old woman, Ibong Rais, was found in Tanjung Bubus, Seberang Daro, at about 9 am by villagers helping the search team.

The search team, led by Matu Daro police chief DSP Wagner Lisa Libut, is now looking for a 55-year-old man, the only person still missing.

Tuesday 21 January 2014

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/longboat-capsize-death-toll-now-10

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