Extreme weather hampers rescue operation of crashed plane

JAKARTA - Rescuers heading to the plane crash scene in Oksibil of Indonesia's Papua province are being hampered by severe weather condition, head of rescue team said on Monday.

"We haven't yet arrived at the scene, it is heavy downpour, dark and cloudy here," Susanto, head of Operation of Jayapura Search and Rescue Office, told Xinhua via phone from Oksibil.

Some 60 search officers, soldiers and police personnel have departed from Oksibil since Monday morning, J.A. Barata, spokesman of the transport ministry, told Xinhua.

The search teams from operator of the plane, Trigana Air, and the search and rescue officers have spotted the location of the wreckage of the aircraft from air.

The spokesman said the rescue operation would much rely on land operation as the poor weather and unfavorable geographical condition have hampered rescuers heading to the accident side from air.

Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti said on Monday that police will send experts of DVI (disaster victim identification) to identify the victims.

"The location is possibly about 15 to 20 km from the airport in Oksibil," Badrodin told reporters.

The ATR42-300 passenger plane lost communication with the control tower at 14:55 local time (05:55 GMT) Sunday.

Three children and two infants were among the 54 people on board.