CRI听力：Spain Makes Efforts to Handle Aftermath of the Air Crash

Spain has begun three days of national mourning for the 153 people who died in the country's worst air disaster in almost 25 years.

Flags around in Madrid are flown at half mast, and a one-minute silence has been observed.

Meanwhile, Spain's senior officials said investigators were making intensive and coordinated efforts to determine the cause of the plane crash. (Www.hxen.net)

Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega is the deputy Prime Minister.

"The investigation commission is working very intensively and hand-in-hand with foreign experts. Their results will be given to the judge, but as soon as we have any details we can inform you about, we will. So far, we are speaking about a very serious and very tragic incident that left 153 people dead."

In addition, Spain's Crown Prince Felipe has visited a hospital to comfort the survivors.

"Spain is mourning. It is a hard day for all of us. Those who live it in the first person, who have lost relatives, are suffering very much and we wanted to be here with them today."

Emergency service for relatives of the victims has also been introduced to provide help.

Only 19 people survived from the 172 on board the Spanair flight, which crashed as it took off from Madrid's Barajas airport heading to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.

Among the survivors were three of the 22 children and infants listed as passengers.