Following the crash of a Kenya Airways flight into a thick mangrove swamp on Saturday near Douala in Cameroon, army sources have revealed that no survivors were found.
This grave news only confirmed a warning given earlier in the day by the governor of Litorral Province who told French radio that the plane was totally destroyed with few chances of finding any survivors.
According to a government statement issued Sunday night, the plane was found around Mbangabongo Village near Douala.
Having taken off at 00:05 from Douala and due to arrive in Nairobi at 06: 15 on Saturday, the Boeing 737-800 carrying 114 people lost contact with Douala airport a few minutes after its departure. The plane had been delayed by an hour due to torrential rainfall and sources have revealed a resurgence of bad weather may have contributed to bringing the plane down.
Five Chinese were on the Kenya Airways flight, according to the Chinese Embassy to Cameroon. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has dispatched staff to the site and asked for timely information on the Chinese nationals.
(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2007)