Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor David Paterson expressed their sympathies to the city's 60,000 residents of Polish descent, after Poland's President Lech Kaczynski and other top Polish officials died in a plane crash in Russia Saturday.

Officials say the 60-year-old president, seen right, First Lady Maria Kaczynski and 95 others were on board a flight that crashed near the city of Smolensk, Russia. Both Russian and Polish officials said there were no survivors.

Among the passengers were Poland's army chief of staff, navy commander, national bank president and deputy foreign minister.

Preliminary investigations showed the plane hit treetops and fell apart. While it is not known on Saturday what caused the crash, heavy fog was reported in the area as the plane descended.

The officials were on their way to a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the massacre of thousands of Polish officers by Soviet secret police during World War II.

In Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Polish immigrants told NY1 on Saturday that they were still in shock from hearing the news.

"I'm speechless, I think this is the best way to describe my feelings. Just speechless," said one immigrant. "It's a national tragedy, and what can I say? So many people I used to see on the news, the Polish news, politicians and the president. And in one moment, you learn they are all gone."

"I had tears in my eyes when I heard that. And I was trying to hold it, look tough on the outside, but still it was hard to hold it," said another.

In a statement, Mayor Michael Bloomberg asked all New Yorkers to keep the people of Poland in their thoughts and prayers.

"The death of President Lech Kaczynski of Poland and First Lady Maria Kaczynski and many other senior leaders of that country is an enormous national tragedy for Poland. President Kaczynski had a long and distinguished career of public service; he leaves a rich legacy of giving back to his country," said the mayor.

Governor David Paterson said in a statement, "I extend my deepest sympathies to the people of Poland, and to the nearly one million Polish-Americans living in New York. I ask that New Yorkers join me in keeping the Polish people in our thoughts and prayers as they endure this difficult time in their nation's history."'

According to the Polish constitution, the parliament speaker will take over presidential duties.

Kaczynski became president in 2005 and was planning to run for re-election this fall. He and his wife are survived by a daughter and two grandchildren.