Belgian authorities on Wednesday named the first victim of Tuesday's terror attacks at Zaventem airport and Maelbeek metro train station. The victim was identified as Peruvian national Adelma Marina Tapia Ruiz, 37.
Ruiz, a Peruvian citizen who lived in Brussels for 9 years, was leaving Belgium for New York, together with her Belgian husband and two children when the attack happened. Ruiz was taking her children to visit her sisters in the US, for a Holy Week family reunion.
According to Ruiz's brother, Fernando Tapia, the girls survived because they were leaving the waiting area with Tapia's husband, Christophe Delcambe. That saved their lives, but Delcambe and one of the girls were taken to hospital with shrapnel wounds. The other child was unharmed.
Peruvian foreign ministry officials have confirmed Tapia Ruiz's identity.
The violent extremist Daesh group claimed responsibility for the attacks which killed 31 people. Belgian police are still searching for fugitive suspect Najim Laachraoui.
