BIJLMER DISASTER

   On 4 October 1992, a cargo plane from the Is raeli airline El Al crashed on the Bijlmer district of southeast Ams terdam. The accident caused 43 deaths, including the crew. Although many inhabitants wrestled with health problems, the authorities started medical research only in 1994. Rumors about a radioactive cargo were denied but in the end led to a parliamentary inquiry in 1999. Although the report criticized the government’s information supply, there were no political consequences, and many survivors and relatives were unsatisfied.