The three young Irish women who were killed when their lorry plunged down a ravine in South America are believed to have been returning to the Bolivian capital, La Paz, from a trip to the Amazon rain forest.
Relatives of the victims, Ms Ann Marie O'Loughlin (25) and her sister Niamh (23) from Aghamore, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, and Ms Eugenie McGee (24) from Lough Eske, Co Donegal, indicated yesterday that the bodies may not be released by the Bolivian authorities for another week.
Yesterday the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed the identity of the O'Loughlin sisters. This had been hampered by the fact their travel documents and passports and other valuables had been looted following the crash, which also claimed the lives of six others: two British women, one German woman, one South African woman and two Bolivian men.
The O'Loughlin sisters were long-time friends of Ms McGee, whom Niamh befriended some years ago while they were both students at NUI Galway.
After graduating in European studies from the University of Limerick, Ann Marie taught for a period in Spain and later went to South America where she fell in love with the people and their customs. At the time of her death she had been working as a tour guide in the upper Andes.
Described as "highly spiritual", Ann Marie was described as a talented musician and very fine writer.
It is understood Ms McGee's passport was found some distance from the crash scene, in a book she had been reading. It was through this that authorities contacted the McGee family who informed them Ms McGee was travelling with the O'Loughlins.
The bodies of the dead are in a mortuary in La Paz. It is unclear when the remains will be returned home. It is believed this will take some time .
The deaths of the O'Loughlin sisters have cast a pall of gloom over east Mayo and further afield, with church and community leaders describing their loss as "irreplaceable".
The O'Loughlins are survived by their father, Noel, their mother, Mary, and a younger sister, Orla, a student at University College Dublin.
It is understood that the vehicle in which they were travelling went out of control and left the road.
It fell down a steep slope and was not visible from the road.
Police were alerted to the accident on Friday night-Saturday morning. News of the tragedy came through to Ireland only on Tuesday.
The communities in Aghamore and nearby Ballyhaunis are still trying to come to terms with the tragedy.
The O'Loughlins were past pupils of the Community School, Ballyhaunis. School principal Mr Jarlath Fahy said the staff and pupils were stunned by the tragedy.
"We were numbed and shocked when we heard the news of the tragic deaths of Ann Marie and Niamh. We have very wonderful memories of these girls. "They were wonderful girls. They were very courteous, gentle, pleasant, and always co-operative.
"They contributed in a large way to life in the school. Niamh played a leading role in the school musical, Oklahoma, in 1992.
"They were both extremely talented girls. We certainly remember them with pride. They have enriched our lives."
They also contributed to the local magazine, Glor, and to music circles there.
"They certainly lived life to the full," he said.