The rescue team has recovered three bodies of passengers aboard theill-fated AirAsia flight QZ8501 that went missing on December 28, Chiefof the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency Marshall BambangSoelistyo said on December 30.
Earlier, it was informed that 40 bodies have been found.
Alsoon December 30, Indonesian President Joko Widodo convened a pressconference to announce the latest result of the search and rescue.
Heexpressed his deep condolences to the families of the passengers andcrew members and thanked international community, especially Singapore ,Malaysia , Australia , India , the UK , France, the US and theRepublic of Korea for their assistance following the incident.
The President also directed units concerned to step up search and rescue and deal with post-accident issues.
On evening the same day, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak also conveyed his profound sympathy to the families of victims.
Inan interview granted to Singapore’s New Straits Times the same day,Malaysian Prime Minister Liow Tiong Lai also expressed his condolencesto the bereaved, pledging that Malaysia will provide all availableequipment to the search and rescue operation led by Indonesia.
Theill-fated plane carried 162 people, including 155 Indonesians, threeKoreans, and each one from Malaysia, Singapore, Britain and France.-VNA