RIO DE JANEIRO, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the worst airplane accident of Brazil's civil aviation history is even higher than originally expected, as TAM airline updated on Wednesday morning to 186 (from 176) the number of passengers and crew members on doomed flight 3054.

    All 186 people are believed to be dead. There are also several victims among the people who were in the building just beyond the airport, against which the TAM Airbus 320 slammed after landing.

    The building, which ironically belongs to TAM Express, the cargo shipping division of TAM airlines, went on fire, as the plane crashed into the building, and exploded.

    By the beginning of the afternoon (local time), rescue workers have removed 131 dead bodies from the smoking wreckage.

    TAM has released the names of all passengers and crew members. The list includes federal representative Julio Redecker.

    The local press is since Tuesday evening speculating on the causes of the accident. The initial suspicion regards the runway of Congonhas airport, which was repaved in June, but has still not been grooved to drain water during heavy rains, such as the one on Tuesday in Sao Paulo. Airport authority Infraero is now being blamed to allow Congonhas to operate during a day of heavy rains.

    Some experts, however, believe the accident might have been caused by human or equipment failure. They said the lack of grooving does not explain the fact the Airbus 320 reached the end of the Congonhas airport main runway with such speed. The local press quoted a government source, who watched the airport's camera footage of the accident, as saying the Airbus landed at the right spot, but strangely accelerate after the landing.

    Congonhas airport reopened on Wednesday morning, using an alternate runway.

Brazilian president calls for prudence, responsibility in crash investigation

    BRASILIA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday called for "prudence and responsibility" in the investigation of Tuesday's air accident in Sao Paulo airport Congonhas, Institutional Relations Minister Walfido dos Mares Guia told media on Wednesday. Full Story

Brazilian justice minister says police to take part in plane crash probe

    BRASILIA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian Justice Minister Tarso Genro said Wednesday that police will take part in the probe of the most deadly plane crash in the country's history. Full Story

Airbus sends five-member team to help investigate Brazilian plane crash

    BRASILIA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The European aircraft maker Airbus said Wednesday that it will send a five-member team to the Brazilian city Sao Paulo to help investigate the deadly plane crash. Full Story

Urgent: Plane with 174 passengers explodes in Sao Paulo airport

    RIO DE JANEIRO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- A plane with 174 passengers aboard has exploded in Sao Paulo's Congonhas International Airport, after failing to stop upon landing and skidding into a hanger, Brazilian Airport Infrastructure Enterprise (Infraero) and Brazil's Federal Police said on Tuesday. Full Story

Workers unwrap a truckload of coffins near the crash site of the TAM airlines Airbus A320 that slid off the runway of Congonhas airport and crashed into a building, killing all the passengers and crew in Sao Paulo July 18, 2007.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)