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CNN Live Saturday

Rescue Workers Call Off the Search for Survivors in Jerusalem

Aired May 26, 2001 - 12:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Rescue teams in Israel have called off the search for survivors of Thursday's wedding hall collapse. Earlier today they used dogs in an attempt to find survivors beneath the twisted rubble. CNN's Ben Wedeman is joining me on the phone from Jerusalem with the latest for us -- Ben.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Donna, they have called off that effort, and they did it basically for two reasons: one, they don't believe that anyone, either dead or alive, is still under the rubble, and other reason is that they are worried that the building itself is so structurally unsound that the rescue workers are in danger from falling debris.

That was announced at a press conference at the site a couple of hours ago. In the meantime, however, the Jerusalem police chief has announced that there are two people that are not accounted for, one a Palestinian, the other an unidentified individual. They say that they don't think that these two individuals are under the rubble, but they still cannot determine their whereabouts.

There is still a little bit of confusion here, exactly what the final fate of everyone at this building is, but certainly, the rescue team, as we saw earlier today, pulling away, taking their gear away. They certainly have called it a day -- Donna.

KELLEY: Ben, can you confirm the latest numbers for us on those who were killed and injured?

WEDEMAN: At the moment, it appears that the number is 23 dead, and more than 300 people were injured. At the moment, around 150, however, remain hospitalized -- Donna.

KELLEY: OK. Ben Wedeman in Jerusalem, thanks very much.

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