47 victims of Russian plane crash identified

Remains of RusAir's Tu-134

MOSCOW, June 27 (Xinhua) — A total of 47 victims killed in last Monday’s Tu-134 plane crash in northern Russia have been identified, local media reported on Monday.

Citing the Russian Health and Social Development Ministry, Interfax news agency said experts had done all their works on identifying the victims.

“The identification process has lasted five days, and it went on round-the-clock during the first few days. The experts have done everything to identify all crash victims as soon as possible,” an official of the ministry was quoted as saying.

The RusAir’s passenger plane, with 52 people on board, crash-landed in Russia’s northern republic of Karelie last Monday. The fuselage was totally destroyed and caught fire as the plane was trying to land on a highway near the airport in heavy fog.

Initially eight people survived and were taken to hospitals, but three of them, including a 10-year old boy, eventually died last week. Currently, four survivors were undergoing treatment at Moscow-based hospitals, while one survivor was staying in a hospital in Petrozavodsk, capital of the Karelie republic.

Preliminary investigation suggested the plane may hit a power line during its landing.

source: http://news.xinhuanet.com