Source: Reuters Author: George Obulutsa 07/07/2009
Subject Concerned: Plane Crash
Tanzanian police said on Jul. 7 that they were investigating reports that some bodies from a crashed Yemeni airliner had washed up on an island.
"Yes, we have that information, of four bodies being recovered. But now I'd like to go and see for myself, and I am getting onto our police boat to go and investigate," Pwani region police commander Absalom Mwakyoma told Reuters.
Pwani is the administrative region which covers Mafia Island, where the bodies have reportedly come ashore. The island is off the coast of Tanzania and northwest of the crash site.
"It has not been confirmed if the bodies are from the Yemeni airline crash. That is why I am going to verify," Mwakyoma said. The Yemeni Airbus plunged into the sea off the Indian Ocean archipelago of Comoros a week ago. Only one survivor out of 153 people on board has been found.
There have been several reports of bodies being spotted in the sea of Comoros, but so far no passengers have been found.
Mwakyoma said police officers were also investigating reports that debris looking like aircraft parts had been seen floating near the bodies.
Rescue teams have detected a signal from the plane's flight recorders but say it could take a while to reach the wreck as it is in deep water.