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Death Toll Expected to Rise In Nigerian Plane Crash Incident
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Nigerian’s Plan
Crashed Saturday
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LAGOS,
May 5 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The Red Cross said Sunday
that at least 130 people were killed and 49 seriously injured in a
plane crash that took place Saturday in northern Nigeria when a
commercial plane burst into flames while taking off to Lagos.
The BAC 1-11-500 aircraft, slammed into
mosques and houses at about two kilometers from the Aminu Kano
international airport destroying more than 30 homes and leaving
hundreds of people homeless.
The Federal Airport Authority (FAA) revealed that all the 69
passengers perished in the air crash, while there were only two
survivors from the seven-crew members on board.
Nigeria's Sports Minister, Ishaya Mark Aku was one of those who died
on the plane, as he had been on his way to Lagos to see a World Cup
warm-up match for Nigeria's footballers, news agencies reported.
The only official death toll released since the tragedy has been 106,
announced Sunday by President Olusegun Obasanjo, news agencies
reported.
The Governor of Kano state, Alhaji Rabiu Isa Kwankwaso, who had
visited the scene of the accident, said that the incident was
unfortunate and very sad, assuring the crowds that the government will
provide immediate help to the victims.
Meanwhile, three hospitals in the Kano area have received 130 corpses.
Rescue workers at the scene said that corpses were still being found
and that the final toll would be much higher, AFP reported.
While Obasanjo has declared two days of national mourning and he is
due to visit the crash site on Monday, an inquiry has been launched
into the cause of the crash, news agencies reported.
The authorities in Nigeria had announced last April a ban on the use
of planes older than 22 years old, giving stringent rules for the
deregulated airline industry since the mid-80's.
The last major air crash in Nigeria was in November 1996 when a Boeing
727 flying from Portharcourt to Lagos crashed, killing 142 passengers
and 9 crewmembers.
Additional
reporting By Sulaiman Osho, IOL Nigeria correspondent
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