- Title: BOLIVIA: Two Israeli tourists die in jeep accident
- Date: 8th April 2011
- Summary: EL ALTO , BOLIVIA (APRIL 7, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OF EL ALTO BOLIVIAN FLAG VARIOUS OF LUFTHANSA STORAGE AREA WHICH HOUSE COFFINS OF DEAD ISRAELI TOURISTS COFFINS OF ISRAELI COFFINS ORTHODOX MEN STANDING BY COFFIN COFFINS OF DEAD ISRAELI TOURISTS LA PAZ , BOLIVIA (APRIL 6, 2011) (REUTERS ) ROBERTO NELKENBAUM, ISRAELI CONSUL IN BOLIVIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ROBERTO NELKENBAUM, ISRAELI CONSUL IN BOLIVIA, SAYING: "Usually, we collaborate with the national court, the laws here, we know how to get things done. Unfortunately, it's not the first time that we follow procedures to repatriate bodies. The steps take more or less a day and a half. It's possible that we will be going through official channels through tonight and we can take a Friday morning flight to Europe where we can connect to Tel Aviv which is where the bodies need to go so they can be buried in Israel at the family's behest." EL ALTO , BOLIVIA (APRIL 7, 2011) (REUTERS ) VARIOUS OF ORTHODOX JEWISH MEN WITH COFFINS
- Embargoed: 23rd April 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Bolivia, Plurinational State Of
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA1M3ND8Q77YBN9KXC01JIT7ISM
- Story Text: Two Israeli tourists were killed and another was injured in a car accident in Bolivia on Tuesday (April 5).
The group was travelling in a jeep when it overturned in the Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, in the country's southwest Bolivia.
The vehicle's Bolivian driver was also killed, while the injured survivor was transferred to a hospital in the city of Sucre and was said to be in no danger.
Roberto Nelkenbaum, the Israel Consul in Bolivia, confirmed the two deaths.
"We were told that they - several Israeli tourists -- were headed back to wrap up this three-day vacation in two SUVs and one of the SUVs overturned, killing two of the passengers. Two female tourists, 22 years of age, died. One was injured and evacuated to Sucre," said Nelkenbaum.
A multi-day jeep trip through the salt flats is one of the Andean country's most popular attractions.
The travellers had signed up for the excursion as they enjoyed the break following military service in their home country.
The bodies of the two women were being flown back to Israel.
"Usually, we collaborate with the national court, the laws here, we know how to get things done. Unfortunately, it's not the first time that we follow procedures to repatriate bodies. The steps take more or less a day and a half. It's possible that we will be going through official channels through tonight and we can take a Friday morning flight to Europe where we can connect to Tel Aviv which is where the bodies need to go so they can be buried in Israel at the family's behest," said Nelkenbaum.
A rabbi was brought in to bless the coffins before they were loaded on to the plane at El Alto International Airport. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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