MESSAGE
| DATE | 2004-05-24 |
| FROM | Ruben I Safir
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| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] France - Not safe at any price...
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French Rescuers Lower Paris Airport Death Toll Estimate to Four
May 24 (Bloomberg) -- French rescue workers said fewer people than previously estimated died at Charles de Gaulle airport yesterday when part of the roof of an 11-month-old passenger terminal collapsed.
Rescue workers are still combing the debris for any sign of victims. The provisional estimate for the number of deaths has been lowered to four from five, an official at the crisis management center on site said.
Part of the roof of terminal 2E at France's busiest airport gave way at about 7 a.m. yesterday, showering passengers with concrete, glass and steel. The second floor departure hall took the brunt, damaging the lower arrivals area and crushing vehicles parked on the ground floor.
``An inquiry will start rapidly into the causes and the circumstances of the accident as well as the necessary emergency and security measures,'' Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said as he visited the accident site this morning.
Transport Minister Gilles de Robien, visiting yesterday with Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin, ruled out any terrorist attack and announced an inquiry into the cause of the accident.
The terminal 2E building was opened in June 2003 and was a ``showcase'' for the modernization of France's busiest airport, according to Pierre Graff, chairman of Aeroports de Paris, which operates the facility.
Redirected Flights
The terminal is used chiefly by Air France SA and its Skyteam partners. Air France said the 60 long- or medium-haul flights due to arrive or depart from the terminal today would be redirected to the airport's other terminals.
State-owned Aeroports de Paris operates 14 airfields or helicopter pads in the Paris region and the government is changing its legal status preparation for a share sale.
Aeroports de Paris Managing Director Hubert du Mesnil countered labor union claims that his company and Air France opened the terminal last year before it had full approval from a safety committee, all-news television station LCI reported yesterday.
``We had difficulties in the opening of the terminal because not all the finishing work had been completed,'' he said in the interview. ``There were no structural problems, since these were finished several months before the opening.''
Air France has set up a toll-free number in France for flight schedule inquiries: 0800 800 812. For passengers in the U.S., Air France has set up a toll-free number for similar inquiries: 1 (800) 321-4538.
Separately, Aeroports de Paris has set up a hotline for inquiries about possible victims of the accident: (+33) (0)1 48 64 59 59.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Simon Packard in Paris packard-at-bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Vidya Root at vroot-at-bloomberg.net
Last Updated: May 24, 2004 03:23 EDT
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