More remains found at MH17 crash site

Investigators have recovered additional human remains in eastern Ukraine after gaining rare access to the site where MH17 was downed in mid-July.

Flowers and cards lie at the temporary memorial for the victims of the MH17 plane crash at airport Schiphol, The Netherlands (AAP)

Flowers and cards lie at the temporary memorial for the victims of the MH17 plane crash at airport Schiphol, The Netherlands (AAP)

Investigators have recovered more human remains at the site in eastern Ukraine where Malaysia Airlines flight 17 was shot down just over 100 days ago.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Friday announced a team of Dutch, Ukrainian and European emergency workers gained a rare chance to safely reach the area where the plane's wreckage is scattered.

Access to the site has been hampered by ongoing fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces.

But Mr Rutte said favourable conditions on Friday allowed the human remains to be collected.

They'll be transported to the north-eastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv and then, following an initial forensic check, transferred to Hilversum military barracks in the Netherlands where victims are being identified.
The wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 near the village of Rassipnoe (Getty)
The wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 near the village of Rassipnoe (Getty)
"Today the circumstances allowed for a small team to travel to the crash site and we grabbed the opportunity with both hands," the Dutch prime minister told journalists at his weekly press briefing in The Hague.

"The security situation at the crash site is constantly changing.

"One day it's relatively calm and the next it's part of the front line where heavy fighting takes place."

Dutch authorities say to date 289 of the 298 passengers on board MH17 have been identified.

It's been reported 36 of the 38 Australian citizens and residents who perished on July 17 have been identified.

A national memorial to remember all the victims - including 193 Dutch nationals - will be held in Amsterdam on November 10.

The service will give relatives the opportunity to come together and commemorate their loved ones, the Dutch justice ministry said in a statement on Friday.

"The program for the memorial has been established in close consultation with the relatives."

Mr Rutte will speak at the service which King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will attend.

The Dutch PM visits Australia next week where he'll meet with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to discuss the need for a full and thorough investigation into the downing of MH17.


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