No Malaysia Involved In Medan Air Crash - Foreign Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 (Bernama) -- The Consulate General of Malaysia in Medan, Indonesia, has confirmed that no Malaysians were involved in the crash of a Hercules C-130 aircraft belonging to the Indonesian Air Force in Medan on Tuesday. A Wisma Putra (Malaysia's Foreign Ministry) statement Wednesday said Malaysia was saddened by the tragedy, which has claimed more than 140 lives. "Malaysia would like to express its condolences to the government and people of the Republic of Indonesia, especially to the families of those killed," the statement said. The aircraft had crashed in a residential area in Medan, northern Sumatra, at about noon Tuesday shortly after taking off from an air base. Meanwhile, Bernama correspondent Azeman Ariffin reports from Jakarta that the bodies of 30 of the 82 people recovered so far, had been identified and handed over to the respective families. He said based on the latest information, the aircraft was carrying 122 people, including 12 crew. The plane, which was carrying logistics from the airbase in Soewondo, Medan, to the Riau Islands, crashed at Jalan Jamin Ginting, Medan, hitting several shophouses and a traditional treatment centre. Antara News Agency bureau chief for North Sumatera, Simon Pramono, who was contacted on the ground there, said that so far 142 bodies had been recovered, including the bodies of people on the ground who were killed. He said the search and rescue mission was ongoing, and authorities could not yet confirm the total number of people involved in the tragedy. Indonesian President Joko Widodo is expected to visit the site of the crash later Wednesday. -- BERNAMA