Death Toll from Congo's Air Tragedy Could be Above 14: Official

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, May 12, 2003

Death Toll from Congo's Air Tragedy Could be Above 14: Official

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Kikaya Bin Karubi, information minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), said in Kinshasa on Sunday that the death toll from the recent air tragedy may rise above the 14 deaths announced so far.

He said that "There is always a first count and we have presumed that there were more dead than just 14 but we have to carry out investigations to confirm this."

Earlier on Friday, Karubi said that seven people had been confirmed killed after being sucked out of the Ilyushin-76 cargo plane ferrying military personnel from Kinshasa to the southern Katanga province on Thursday evening.

It was reported that the rear door of the cargo plane had burstopen at 2,200 meters over the city of Mbuji-Mayi.

Congolese Minister of Defense Irung Awan, who oversees the air force, said on Sunday that only 14 were so far known to be missing,seven police and seven civilians.

Congolese Minister of Health Mamba Shako disclosed on Sunday atleast 30 people are known to have safely returned with the Russian-built cargo aircraft which swung back to Kinshasa's airport late Thursday after the rear door unlatched, spilling people into the sky 2,200 meters over the vast central African nation.

The DRC's army is now investigating the accident but no official statement has yet been made.

Two officials at the international airport in Kinshasa said earlier that at least 120 people were feared dead in the mishap.

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