Rescuers locate Venezuelan airliner that crashed in a mountainous jungle area with 46 people on board

Rescuers have located a Venezuelan airliner that crashed in a mountainous jungle area with 46 people on board in northern Venezuela, authorities said. Antonio Rivero, national director of civil defence, said rescuers had identified the site of the crash in the south-western state of Merida.'We don't yet know the condition of the passengers or crew,' he said, adding that the darkness had fallen and hindered the search and rescue effort. Regional Civil Defence chief Gerardo Rojas said the crash site was located high in the Andes Mountains. 'We have information from local police of the probable site at Paramo de Mucuchies, in the sector of Collao del Condor, Paramo Piedra Blanca, some 4,750 metres above sea level, near the Laguna de la Perlada,' Rojas said.