33 victims of plane crash in Egypt identified, says Russian official

The Russian jet crashed over the Sinai Peninsula killing all 224 people on board

Moscow

: A Russian official says families have identified the bodies of 33 victims killed in Saturday's plane crash over Egypt.

The Russian jet crashed over the Sinai Peninsula early Saturday, killing all 224 people on board. Most of them were holidaymakers from Russia's St. Petersburg.

Igor Albin, deputy governor of St. Petersburg, said in a televised conference call that as of Wednesday morning families have identified 33 bodies.

Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov said rescue teams in Egypt have expanded the search area to 40 square kilometers (15 square miles).

Russian officials have refrained from announcing the cause of the crash, citing the ongoing investigation.