Death Toll in Russian Plane Crash Climbs to 32

A Russian ATR-72 passenger plane crashed at take-off in Siberia in the wee hours Monday. Photo by RIA Novosti

The death toll in the crash of a Russian passenger plane in Siberia early Monday morning has reached 32, while there are 11 survivors.

The numbers come from the official information published by Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The survivors have been taken to the local hospital in Tyumen, however, all are in critical condition, RIA-Novosti says. The rescue team initially found 14 survivors in the rubble, but 3 died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Psychologists are helping the families of the victims and of the injured.

According to Russian officials, the plane crashed at take-off. It disappeared from radars at 05:35 am local time, State-owned Russian news channel Rossiya 24 reported, cited by Bulgarian bTV.

The ATR-72 turboprop aircraft had just left Tyumen on a flight northeast to the oil town of Surgut when it crashed.

39 passengers and four crew members were on board the plane, which crashed about 35km (22 miles) from Tyumen.

The Governor of the Tyumen Region, Vladimir Yakushev, has arrived at the crash scene.

The rescue and investigation team has already located the two black boxes of the plane.

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