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French rescue teams join in Yemeni plane crash search
French rescue teams on Wednesday joined in the search for survivors of the Yemenia jetliner crash, a day after a 14-year-old girl was saved from the seas off the coast of the Comoros archipelago.
French rescue teams on Wednesday joined in the search for survivors of the Yemenia jetliner crash, a day after a 14-year-old girl was saved from the seas off the coast of the Comoros archipelago.
However hopes of finding more survivors were slim, a Red Cross spokeswoman said, more than a day after the plane plunged into the sea while trying to land at Moroni airport in rough weather.
"Measures were put in place yesterday (Tuesday) to resume rescue operations early today. We still hope to find survivors although this is doubtful," Ramulati Ben Ali told AFP.
She said 22 French Red Cross rescuers had arrived to help in the search for survivors.
A French military plane, Zodiac fast boats and other equipment had arrived from the neighbouring French island, Reunion. Later Wednesday, a French helicopter is also expected, a Comoros government spokesman said.
In addition, a 40-metre Madagascan vessel with some 30 seamen had also been sent on Tuesday to help with the search operation.
So far, a girl, from the southern Comoran village of Nioumadzaha, has been confirmed as the only survivor among 142 passengers and 11 crew of Flight IY 626.
