An atmosphere of mourning has enveloped Germany.
(Baonghean) - March 24th became the darkest day in German history when at least 67 passengers on the ill-fated A320 flight were German nationals. Even more heartbreaking is that among the deceased were two children and 16 schoolchildren on their way home...
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| Hundreds of candles were lit in front of Joseph-Konig High School. Photo: Reuters |
Immediately after the accident, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was the worst disaster since she took office and also since the Concorde crash in Gonesse, France, in 2000, which killed 96 Germans. According to Merkel, the tragedy was also “a huge shock to all Germans, French, and Spanish.”
News of the plane crash came like a bombshell to the 38,000 residents of Haltern am See, Germany, as 16 high school students and 2 professors from Joseph-Konig High School were on board the ill-fated flight. The German Minister of Education confirmed the presence of 16 students on the flight. Mayor Bodo Klimpel of Haltern am See wept as he declared, "This is the worst day in the city's history." A memorial was erected on Tuesday evening (March 24th) and opened on Wednesday (March 25th) for people to pray for the victims.
According to reports, all 16 students were 15 years old and were on their way home after participating in a student exchange week at the Giola de Llinars del Vallès Institute in Catalane, near Barcelona, Spain. Their friends and relatives couldn't believe what they heard and tried everything to contact them…but all their efforts were in vain. Everyone was heartbroken by their deaths.
At Dusseldorf Airport, the supposed landing point for the A320, medical personnel and psychologists were immediately dispatched to care for the 40-50 relatives of the victims. Although the French President had declared that there was little chance of survival, many people remained at the airport throughout the night, hoping for a miracle to happen to their loved ones. It seemed that exhaustion and grief enveloped not only the families of the deceased but also the entire nation of Germany.
Chu Thanh
(According to Le Monde, Le Figaro March 25)
| On March 25, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere stated that there was no credible evidence to suggest that the Germanwings Airbus A320 flight 4U9525, which crashed in France, was the result of terrorism. He also emphasized that any speculation or assumptions about the cause of the accident must take into account the psychological and emotional state of the victims' families. The German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has dispatched a team of identification experts to France. The victim identification process is expected to take one to two weeks. |
