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Published on September 19, 2007

 

All of the 35 Thais who died are included in that group.

"We have already identified all the Thais who were killed in the accident," Pol Maj Gen Sangchai Suwattanapakdi, head of the National Police Office's Scientific Crime Detection Division, said yesterday.

There were 41 survivors from the accident.

According to the National Police Office's Foreign Affairs Division, the casualties included Israeli, British, German, American, Australian, Iranian, Italian and French tourists.

The division's deputy commander, Colonel Pornprasert Kanjanarin, said relevant embassies and consulates had been informed of the formal procedures to claim the bodies.

"Relatives must present dental records, hair, fingerprints and photos before they can pick up the bodies," Pornprasert said.

Phuket police chief Maj General Decha Butrnampetch said officials had also collected belongings of the victims who died in the crash.

"Their relatives can now come forward to collect those items," he said.

Orient Thai chairman Udom Tantiprasongchai said yesterday his company was responsible for the transportation of bodies, plus travel and accommodation expenses of the victims' relatives. Orient Thai owned the ill-fated One-Two-Go airliner.

Udom also promised to pay Bt100,000 in financial aid to help the relatives of each victim arrange funerals.

"As for further compensation, we will negotiate with insurers to provide maximum benefits to the victims," he said.

Meanwhile, Phuket social-security office confirmed that 18 victims from the tragedy were entitled to compensation and financial assistance from the social-security scheme.

The Nation