Austria remembers ski train victims

Mourners arriving at Salzburg Cathedral

A memorial service has been held in Austria for the victims of last week's devastating train tunnel fire near the ski resort of Kaprun.

Mourners attending the service in Salzburg Cathedral included Austrian President Thomas Klestil, Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, and his German counterpart, Gerhard Schroeder.

Investigators continue searching for clues

The 155 victims - including many Germans and other foreigners - perished on Saturday on their way to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier in what was Austria's worst post-war disaster.

"In the name of the Republic of Austria, I bid farewell to the victims and, with me, all Austrians bow their heads in respect for the dead," President Klestil told the mourners.

The cause of the blaze remains unclear, although final results of chemical analysis of an oily substance found on the track leading into the tunnel could be known later on Friday.

Officials say the substance is similar in consistency to lubricants used by the train's manufacturers.

Meanwhile, legal teams have moved in to assess possible compensation claims surrounding the tragedy.

Legal moves

A New York lawyer, Ed Fagan, who has been leading a high-profile case against Austria on behalf of holocaust victims, has expressed interest in taking up any such court action.

I have been contacted by a representative of some of the victims

US lawyer Ed Fagan

Mr Fagan says he has already spoken with representatives of victims' families but says he needs more time to determine whether or not he wants to put together a class action lawsuit against those found responsible for the fire.

He indicated that as many as 20 families were interested in his offer.

"On a per-person basis you are talking about millions of dollars per person, assuming you have got a person who is a breadwinner," he said earlier in the week.

Technical fault

Forensic investigators and eyewitnesses have suggested a technical fault may have started the fire before the train even entered the tunnel.

A team of 10 accident investigators is at the scene sifting through debris for clues.

"They will be there for at least a week and we are expecting further experts from abroad to help with the operation," said a spokeswoman for the region's administration.

The victims by nationality

92 Austrians

37 Germans

10 Japanese

8 Americans

4 Slovenians

2 Dutch

1 Czech

1 Briton

She said specialist laboratories around Austria were analysing the evidence, but that final results in some cases could take up to six months.

All the bodies of those who died have now been pulled from the funicular's melted wreckage.

Victims' remains have been taken to Salzburg, where pathologists are using DNA techniques to identify them.

The process could take several weeks because the corpses are so badly burned.

An official list of victims released on Thursday revealed that 37 of them were under the age of 20.