Lagos - Nigerian
rescuers have confirmed the first deaths on the ground caused by a devastating
plane crash in the country's largest city, raising the toll to 157, an official
said on Tuesday.
The death toll
rose after rescuers confirmed the deaths of at least four people from a
residential building in the Lagos neighbourhood where the Dan Air MD83 crashed
on Sunday afternoon, in addition to the 153 crew and passengers, the official
said.
"A couple
died while their children survived, then a woman and her daughter," the
official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to
provide figures.
The number of
deaths could rise further as searches continue at the site near the airport,
particularly amid the ruins of the two-storey residential building.
Rains prevented
work from resuming early on Tuesday, with fears that the remains of the
building could collapse.
The victims
include a number of foreigners, including six Chinese, an Indian and an unclear
number of Americans. The pilot was an American and the co-pilot was Indian, the
country's civil aviation chief has said.
The plane,
travelling from the capital Abuja to Lagos, had reported both of its engines
having failed before it went down, according to the civil aviation chief.
Rescue officials
have said the body of a woman was discovered on Monday clutching her baby