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Spanish govt to aid victims of plane crash in Madrid
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-21 09:41

MADRID-- The Spanish government announced Wednesday that it is to aid the families of all the victims in the plane crash that killed 153 people and injured 20 in Madrid.


Emergency vehicles line up as smoke rises from the scene of the crash where a plane skidded off the runway and crashed at Madrid's Barajas airport on August 20, 2008. [Agencies] 

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said the government is shocked and very affected by the tragedy, while the citizens are experiencing similar reactions.

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Spanish authorities "will give all their efforts" to support the families of the killed and injured people in the tragedy at "this hard moment," Rodriguez Zapatero said.

Rodriguez Zapatero said a special commission will investigate the cause of the disaster, which took place at the International Airport of Barajas at 2:45 p.m. (1245 GMT) Wednesday when an MD-82 jet shot off the runway.

Among the 153 fatalities, 147 died at the accident site, while six died in hospital. The survivors have grave burns and contusions.

Most victims were burned to death because the plane caught fire swiftly.

The plane's black boxes have been recovered and given to authorities for analysis of the accident's cause.