Lion Air plane crashes in Indonesia

Search and rescue operations expanded to at least 400 square nautical miles, Didi Hamzar, Director of Preparedness for Indonesia’s search and rescue agency BASARNAS, told reporters Tuesday.

Didi said 35 ships and 50 divers were focused on 13 priority areas and that 26 body bags of remains had been collected in total. So far 812 personnel have been deployed to help in operations, including workers from government agencies, volunteers and teams from the Red Cross.

Search and rescue operations are expected to continue around the clock for the next three days.

BASARNAS Chief Muhammad Syauqi told reporters at a separate news conference Tuesday that search operations could be extended three days past the government’s standard seven days.

Inspector General Arthur Tampi, head of Indonesia’s National Police Health and Medical Department, said police are using DNA, finger prints and tooth samples to assist in identification -- a process that should take four full days.

Officials confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the plane’s flight data recorder and main fuselage have yet to be found.

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