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Six AirAsia bodies recovered, says Basarnas
The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) said that as of the fourth day of search and rescue (SAR) operations, the joint SAR team had recovered the bodies of six victims from AirAsia flight QZ8501, which crashed into waters around Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan, on Sunday
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he National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) said that as of the fourth day of search and rescue (SAR) operations, the joint SAR team had recovered the bodies of six victims from AirAsia flight QZ8501, which crashed into waters around Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan, on Sunday.
'On Wednesday morning, we recovered three more bodies so in total, we have recovered six bodies, which are currently being kept on the ship [KRI Bung Tomo],' Basarnas chief Air Chief Marshal FH Bambang Soelistyo said as quoted by Antara news agency in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He said the three victims found on Wednesday morning comprised two males and one female. 'The female victim wore a flight attendant uniform,' said Bambang.
The Basarnas commander further explained that bad weather had hampered recovery efforts since Wednesday morning. The SAR team would immediately take the six bodies to Pangkalan Bun and would continue the recovery operation once the weather improved, he added.
The West Kotawaringin administration is reported to have prepared 168 coffins in Pangkalan Bun. Hercules aircraft dispatched by the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) from Halim Perdanakusumah Airport in East Jakarta have also transported a number of coffins.
'We prepared the coffins so that we can bring all victims' bodies in good condition. There are teams that will receive, bathe and properly treat the bodies in Pangkalan Bun,' said Bambang.
On Tuesday, the joint SAR team found the wreckage of the Airbus 320-200 plane belonging to AirAsia Indonesia, which lost contact with air traffic control while en route from Surabaya to Singapore at 6:18 a.m. local time on Sunday. On the third day of search operations, the SAR team also found and managed to recover the bodies of three victims. (ebf)
