Synagogue collapse: Forensic identification of recovered bodies begins

The Lagos State Government on Friday commenced forensic identification and DNA analysis of bodies recovered from the site of the collapsed building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun, Lagos.

The Commissioner for Health Dr Jide Idris, who made this known in a statement issued to newsmen in Lagos, called for DNA samples from relatives.

"The State Government has considered it necessary to start forensic identification and DNA analysis of the recovered bodies in view of the need to identify each of them.

"Family members and all nationals who believed their relations could have been in the collapsed building should come forward and submit samples.

"They should come forward and submit samples that can aid forensic identification and DNA analysis of recovered bodies,’’ the statement said.

It quoted the commissioner as appealing to the families of the victims especially parents, children and siblings to visit the Department of Forensic Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

It added that those eligible to give samples for the forensic identification and DNA analysis in order of preference were the parents, children and siblings of the deceased.

Saturday 27 September 2014

http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/synagogue-collapse-forensic-identification-recovered-bodies-begins

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19 killed in Guinea-Bissau land mine blast

At least 19 people aboard a minibus were killed when a landmine exploded in northern Guinea-Bissau, police said Saturday.

Another 10 people were injured, several seriously, in the blast on a little-used route 70 kilometres (40 miles) north of the capital of Bissau, as the vehicle swerved to avoid water in its path, police and witnesses said.

Three people, including the driver, emerged unscathed.

"The vehicle was overloaded, I was on the roof with some other passengers when we heard a loud boom. The bus was cut in two," one survivor said.

The blast was so powerful that the bodies of most of the victims were flung across nearby fields, some torn into pieces, he added.

The injured were taken to the country´s largest hospital, with ambulances shuttling to and from the site of the explosion late into the evening.

"There were bodies ripped apart, which shows the violence of the explosion," a nurse in the hospital´s emergency room said.

An army mine disposal team was sent in to investigate the accident and the type of mine which caused it.

It could date from the country´s struggle for independence from Portugal 40 years ago, military sources told national radio.

Some 4,000 anti-personnel and anti-tank mines were left behind by Portuguese colonial army after the 1961-1974 war of independence, according to the anti-mine action centre, Caami.

Saturday 27 September 2014

http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-160946-19-killed-in-Guinea-Bissau-land-mine-blast:-police

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Forensic agency issued with contempt notice for delaying DNA reports on the unidentified bodies of the Baldia factory fire incident

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday issued contempt of court notices to the in-charge and project director of the National Forensic Science Agency (NFSA) for their failure to submit a report regarding the progress being made towards preparing reports of DNA tests conducted on the unidentified bodies of the Baldia factory fire incident within two weeks.

The court was hearing an application filed by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler), seeking compliance with the court directive of March 12 last year that ordered the chief secretary to conduct DNA tests on the unidentified bodies prior to their burial.

The petition was filed for the constitution of a judicial commission to fix the responsibility on the people responsible for the fire incident at the Ali Enterprises which claimed the lives of 259 people on September 11, 2012, and to suggest monetary compensation for the legal heirs of the victims.

The division bench headed by SHC Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar took exception to the non-filing of report by the NFSA officials and directed them to file the report along with the explanation by October 17.

The counsel for Ali Enterprises owners Abdul Aziz, Abdul Aziz and Shahid Aziz sought time to file comments on the application seeking transfer of the investigation officer and expeditious trial of the case.

Applicant’s counsel Faisal Siddiqui submitted the investigation officer of the case, Jahanzeb Khan, was delaying the proceedings, alleging that the IO was favouring the accused people and despite the lapse of two years even charges had not been framed against the accused.

He asked the court to direct the Sindh Home Department and the IGP to appoint a senior investigation officer with the permission of the court and direct the trial court to conclude the trial proceedings within six months.

Regarding the payment of compensation to the legal heirs of the victims, the court directed the Workers Welfare Fund secretary to release Rs129.5 million to the Workers Welfare Board for distribution among the victims' families within a week, observing that in case of non-compliance, contempt proceedings would be initiated against him.

The high court also issued a contempt of court notice to the chairman of the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution for not filing a statement regarding the non-payment of compensation to the legal heirs of 255 victims.

Saturday 27 September 2014

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-275166-Forensic-agency-issued-with-contempt-notice-for-delaying-DNA-reports

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Brazil joins search for shipwreck survivors in the Paraguay river

A "hotel boat" sank on Wednesday in the Paraguay river near the Brazilian border, the boat was carrying Brazilian tourists and Paraguayan crew in a region famous for its wildlife diversity.

Brazilian authorities have joined the search for survivors of a boat carrying 16 passengers and 11 crew that sank on the Paraguay River, near the border on Wednesday.

The bodies of three Brazilian tourists have already been found in the river in the Pantanal, the largest wetland in the world that divides Brazil and Paraguay.

“Four teams with 21 officers, including 14 divers have been mobilized,” said Lieutenant Landes, a member of the Brazilian coastguard.

After the sinking of the boat, five Brazilian tourists, and eight Paraguayan crew members were rescued. Eleven people remain missing.

This is the second shipwreck in two days on the Paraguay river, after a Bolivian military boat sank near Forte Coimbra in Brazil, killing two.

Saturday 27 September 2014

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Brazil-Joins-Search-for-Shipwreck-Survivors-20140926-0042.html

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