Category Archives: Mass Disaster

Dear Readers,
This is not the usual forensic news, but of interest to us all and gratifying to find positive actions and thoughts. Be well and lets flatten the curve.”

“About 35 vaccine candidates with different modes of action are in development for COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization.
The following are coronavirus vaccine candidates in development along with the sponsor, vaccine type and stage of development:”

Fitchburg-based Promega Corp. is ramping up production of lab materials used in tests for the new coronavirus as the virus continues its global spread.
Promega manufactures reagents and other lab equipment and materials for companies around the world, including Utah-based Co-Diagnostics which developed a test for the coronavirus.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The government has released the remains of some of the people killed during the passage of Hurricane Dorian to their families, Health minister Dr Duane Sands confirmed today.

(Reuters) – California emergency workers were using a DNA analysis technique primarily employed in war zones and crime scenes to quickly identify the badly-burned remains of 34 people killed when a fast-moving fire trapped them on a scuba diving boat.

Ethiopia will send DNA samples taken from the victims of last month’s Boeing Co. 737 Max jet crash for identification tests in London.
The remains of the 157 people who died are currently in a hospital in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopia capital, Musie Yehyies, the spokesman for the transport ministry, said in an interview.

Some refer to “Rapid DNA” technology as a magic box. A machine tests DNA samples and produces results in as little as two hours.
It was used with some success at last autumn’s deadly California wildfire. And it’s being employed by more police agencies in the U.S. CGTN’s Hendrik Sybrandy reported from Denver.

Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel will preside over the mass at the Holy Saviour Church.
Ethiopian Authorities are planning the interdenominational service, on the backdrop of lingering questions that remain unanswered.
Further, many of the victims or their families do not profess to the Christian faith while the allowable period for last rites is only 24 hours for Jews and Muslims which is long expired.
Among the pending issues is how to the families will find closure for the remains of their loved ones, and if at all there would be any DNA analysis to identify the tiny body parts recovered so far.

Recovering DNA from the charred remains of people killed in the petroleum pipeline explosion in Hidalgo last month is almost impossible, genetics experts say.
The death toll from the blast and fire that spread across a field in the municipality of Tlahuelilpan on January 18 has reached 126. Of the 68 people who died at the scene, just 16 have been identified.

CARITA, INDONESIA: Grief-stricken Indonesians queued with photos or waited on DNA tests Wednesday, to find out if their missing loved ones were among bodies being held in a hospital morgue after a devastating tsunami tore families apart.