64 bodies of Smolensk crash victims identified

"In the past 24 hours, 64 bodies have been identified. The first group of relatives - 74 people - returned to Warsaw after the identification procedure," the ministry said.

The Russian Ministry of Public Health and Social Development confirmed the identification of 64 victims in the plane crash near Smolensk. Thirty bodies are due to be flown to Poland soon.

The Tu-154 plane with the members of an official Polish delegation met with an accident on Saturday as it was flying to mourning events at the Katyn memorial. There were no survivors. Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his spouse were among the fatalities.

Psychologists from the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry accompany victims' relatives in Moscow. They met them at the airport, helped them with hotel arrangements and during the identification procedure. The most difficult part of work is to provide assistance during the identification.

A Russian and English hotline continues to function at the Emergency Situations Ministry's center of urgent psychological assistance, Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.