PAKISTAN: Distraught relatives of passengers on an ill-fated plane that crashed, rush to airports and hospitals in Islamabad and Karachi
Record ID:
382052
PAKISTAN: Distraught relatives of passengers on an ill-fated plane that crashed, rush to airports and hospitals in Islamabad and Karachi
- Title: PAKISTAN: Distraught relatives of passengers on an ill-fated plane that crashed, rush to airports and hospitals in Islamabad and Karachi
- Date: 29th July 2010
- Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (JULY 28, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PAKISTAN INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES RELATIVES WAITING OUTSIDE HOSPITAL SIGN OF HOSPITAL WOMEN WAITING OUTSIDE HOSPITAL MAN ON PHONE CRYING WOMAN ON PHONE VARIOUS OF WOMEN PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE THE EMERGENCY ROOM VARIOUS OF MAN CRYING WOMEN CRYING KARACHI, PAKISTAN (JULY 28, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF KARACHI AIRPORT BUILDING PEOPLE GATHERING RELATIVES INQUIRING ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONES AT THE CIVIL AVIATION COUNTER WOMAN CRYING, HER HUSBAND TOOK THE FLIGHT FROM KARACHI RELATIVES LOOKING FOR NAMES OF THEIR LOVED ONES IN THE PASSENGER LIST PASSENGER LIST MAN WHOSE BROTHER WAS ONBOARD THE PLANE, CRYING TWO RELATIVES HOLDING DISTRESSED MAN WHOSE BROTHER WAS ON THE PLANE
- Embargoed: 13th August 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Pakistan
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA1MYVK9SPH9UX0LBGELC81Y4Y5
- Story Text: Shocked relatives and friends gathered outside hospitals and airports on Wednesday (July 28) after hearing the news of plane crash and were eager to know the fate of their loved ones.
More than 90 people were confirmed dead after the Airbus 321, belonging to private airline Airblue, crashed in heavy rain while flying from the southern port city of Karachi as rescue efforts continue, officials said.
Rescuers said they had to dig through the rubble with their bare hands, with fire and thick smoke hampering their work. The crash site, on a steep and heavily wooded hill, has no roads, limiting access to pedestrians and helicopters.
The plane lost contact with the control room of the Islamabad International Airport at 0443 GMT. It was carrying 146 passengers and six crew members.
Relatives at the hospital in Islamabad were visibly shaken while waiting for the news of their loved ones.
At Jinnah International Airport in the southern city of Karachi, anxious relatives waited for news. A list of the passengers was posted for relatives and friends of victims.
A thick blanket of cloud and smoke caused by fire could be seen rising from the crash site. A helicopter hovered overhead and flames flickered at trees and what appeared to be wreckage from the plane, television pictures showed.
The crash site is on the Margalla Hills facing Islamabad, about 300 meters (yards) up the side of the hills. Smoke was visible from some districts of the city, and crowds of onlookers lined the streets pointing and watching the smoke rise from the green hills.
Pakistan's local television showed rescue workers at the crash site looking through debris and searching for any survivors.
The military said it had sent three helicopters to the site and troops had also been moved there.
Officials at the British and U.S. embassies in Islamabad said they were trying to confirm if any of their nationals had been onboard the crashed plane.
There had been heavy monsoon rains in the area for at least a couple of days. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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