Mass identification: a multidisciplinary operation. The Dutch experience

Area of Science:

• Disaster victim identification
• Forensic science
• Disaster response operations

Background:

• The Netherlands National Police Force's Disaster Unit plays a crucial role in mass casualty incident response.
• Effective victim identification is paramount in the aftermath of major disasters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the organization and operations of the Disaster Unit.
• To detail the Dutch response to the Tenerife disaster, focusing on victim identification methods.

Main Methods:

• Description of the Disaster Unit's operational structure.
• Analysis of recovery, technical, and tactical identification procedures.
• Case study of the Tenerife disaster response, including on-site and post-return investigations.

Main Results:

• Successful identification of 82% of victims from the Tenerife disaster.
• Demonstration of effective technical and tactical identification strategies.
• Highlights the capabilities of the Disaster Unit in complex forensic operations.

Conclusions:

• The Disaster Unit's organizational structure and methods are effective in disaster victim identification.
• The Tenerife operation exemplifies the unit's success in challenging forensic recovery and identification tasks.