298 candles lit in Amsterdam at memorial to victims of flight MH17
Schoolchildren silently placed flowers next to 298 candles - one for each victim of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 - at a sombre Dutch commemoration of the air disaster that shook the Netherlands nearly four months ago.
Schoolchildren silently placed flowers next to 298 candles - one for each victim of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 - at a sombre Dutch commemoration yesterday of the air disaster that shook the Netherlands nearly four months ago.
The nationally televised event in Amsterdam highlighted the ongoing grief, disbelief and anger of the families and friends of those killed when the Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was downed on July 17 over conflict-hit eastern Ukraine.
Most of the victims were Dutch, but passengers and crew from 19 different countries died.
One 13-year-old girl, Gita Wiegel, recalled cuddling her mother before she boarded Flight 17.
"The idea I would have to miss her for four weeks was terrible," she said. "But this, this is far more terrible. The last SMS I got from her was: 'See you in four weeks, darling. Take good care of yourself."'
Another grieving relative, Paul Marckelbach, recited a poem, sobbing as he read the final word: "Why?"
Other relatives, some choking back tears, read out the names and ages of all 298 victims.