Bad Weather in AirAsia Flight Crash Zone Threatens Rescuers Lives

"These [weather] conditions not only hamper rescue operations but could also endanger personnel involved in the operation," the agency's head Heru Jatmika was quoted as saying by the Indonesian Viva News agency.

The head meteorologist stressed that extreme natural conditions posed not only an aerial threat from cloud formations resembling those observed on the day of the catastrophe, but also from waves reaching up to four meters (13 feet) in some parts of the search area.

So far, a total of 34 victims have been recovered and nine have been identified.

Deteriorating weather conditions also prevented closer inspection of five large objects detected by sonar equipment on the bottom of the sea, where the remaining 128 victims are believed to be strapped in their seats.

A multinational team of specialists, including over 70 Russian rescuers, is currently carrying out search operations at the suspected crash site. AirAsia's Airbus A320-200 fell into the Java Sea on December 28, with 155 and seven crew members on board. According to an initial report by the meteorological agency, ice on the engine may have contributed to the plane's malfunction.