Rescue Team Finds 12 Bodies in Crash Site

Jakarta - The rescue team has found 12 bodies of the passengers of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 that crashed into Mount Salak, West Java, on Wednesday, May 9, 2012. "The land rescue team has found 12 lifeless bodies, but we are still unable to identify them," National Search And Rescue Ageny Chief Daryatmo said in a press conference at the Halim Perdanakusumah airbase in Jakarta on Friday. Daryatmo also offered his deep condolences to the victims¿ families. "We are continuing the evacuation process and have also prepared for air evacuation. A helipad has not yet been set up at the crash site, so the bodies cannot be evacuated right now," he added. Responding to the victims¿ families who are demanding that the bodies be evacuated immediately, Daryatmo said the crash site was not reachable by parachute. "We can understand how the families are feeling right now and we want to do this evacuation as fast as we can, but the problem is the crash site terrain is unreachable by parachute," he explained. The condition of the ill-fated Sukhoi Superjet 100 passengers¿ bodies is unclear. The joint rescue team comprises members of the National Search and Rescue Agency, Indonesian Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Police, and Mobile Brigade. (*)