“Of the eight bodies, five have been identified by forensic doctors, while the remaining three were unrecognizable due to severe burns,” Basarnas' Operations Director First Admiral Yudhi Bramantyo said during a press conference.
He said the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team of the South Kalimantan Police will continue efforts to match the remains, particularly the three bodies that could not be identified.
Among the five identified, one body was found nearly intact, while the others were in fragmented condition, he added.
Related news: Eight bodies recovered after helicopter crash in South Kalimantan
The victims included the helicopter captain, Haryanto; technician Hendra; and six passengers – Mark Weren from the United States, Santha Kumar from India, Claudine Quito from Brazil, and Indonesians Iboy Irfan Rosa, Yudi Febrian and Andys Rissa Pasulu.
Head of the South Kalimantan Police’s Medical and Health Division Senior Commissioner Muhammad El Yandiko said the identification process is still underway and final confirmation has not yet been made.
The joint search team located the helicopter wreckage Wednesday in a forest near Emil Baru Village, Mantewe Sub-district, Tanah Bumbu District, at around 2:45 p.m. local time. The aircraft had been reported missing Monday morning at 8:54 a.m.
Officials said the wreckage was found about 700 meters from the coordinates given by the National Transportation Safety Committee.
The On Scene Commander deployed ground rescue units to the site for evacuation, and all eight bodies were recovered Thursday night at around 9:50 p.m. local time.
Related news: Indonesia's Transport Ministry backs probe into fatal Kalimantan crash
Translator: Tumpal, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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