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Body of HK woman who died in volcano to be flown home

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The body of a Hong Kong woman who plunged to her death in an active volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo will be flown home.

Cecilia Cheng Siu-yan was confirmed dead by UN troops on July 7 after they mounted a hazardous mission to retrieve her from Mount Nyiragongo in remote Virunga National Park.

The 33-year old fell into the volcano after she clambered over the rim to take photographs of the molten lava, against the advice of park guards, and landed on a ledge 200 metres below, according to Monuc, the UN mission in the country.

Her body was trapped on the ledge for more than 24 hours before rescuers retrieved it. Kemal Saiki, Monuc's media relations director, said she had died in the fall.

Cheng's body was taken to a UN hospital in the town of Goma, 19km from Mount Nyiragongo, last Sunday.

The Chinese embassy in Kinshasa was to send counsellor Yu Qiuzhong to the area early last week to discuss arrangements with local authorities.

Before he left, Mr Yu said Hong Kong immigration officials had told him it was the original wish of Cheng's family that she be cremated in the country.

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