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At the site of the disaster at Muan Airport, one gains a deeply profound understanding of the abruptness and devastation of the event.
The atmosphere is hauntingly silent as military personnel meticulously examine the debris, collecting scattered fragments and placing them into small plastic bags.
Dozens of meters from the aircraft, one can observe an abundance of passenger seats torn asunder alongside shattered components of the aircraft.
Only the tail section of the aircraft remains intact, while the majority is obliterated. Consumed by flames, it is evident that passengers faced virtually no probability of escaping this tragic calamity.
Live updates: South Korea plane crash
South Korean soldiers work near the wreckage. Pic: AP
The wreckage of the Jeju Air aircraft. Pic: Reuters
Within the airport, a morgue has been set up, where families are congregating—consumed by sorrow, yet some lingering in anticipation for the official identification of their relatives.
They sit in somber stillness—the arrivals board now displaying the names of the passengers on board.
Temporary tents have been established to offer families a degree of privacy. A palpable sense of tranquility and disbelief pervades the surroundings.
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Temporary shelters set up at the airport for mourners. Pic: AP
Mourners at the airport. Pic: AP
Numerous individuals aboard the flight were returning from a holiday in Thailand that celebrated Christmas. Now their bereaved families have converged at a memorial altar—struggling to comprehend the enormity of South Korea’s most tragic aviation catastrophe.
There exists a brutal sequence of events unfolding in the wake of this national tragedy, experienced on an acute and distressing level by the families of those lost.
Family members appear drained; some have slept on the terminal floor, anxiously awaiting official validation.
Suddenly, a man approaches the microphone and begins to announce the names of eight individuals, requesting their relatives to proceed to gate one.
A woman is seen praying at a memorial altar dedicated to the victims. Pic: Reuters
Buddhist monks hold prayers for the victims. Pic: AP
Family members quickly gather together and hurry outside to a waiting bus that is set to transport them to the morgue.
They are faced with a harrowing task ahead. Numerous bodies are in exceptionally poor condition, and identification is only possible through DNA analysis and fingerprints.
While they await the bus, a group of women begins to cry. It’s a heartbreaking display of sorrow in a culture that values privacy. Many are simply too distraught to speak.
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However, during a press conference, tensions are escalating. Several family members are yelling at officials, expressing their frustration over being unable to view their loved ones’ remains.
The official informs them that they are diligently sorting through over 600 body parts and are making every effort to prevent any errors. This is a harsh reality that many find difficult to grasp.
