89 Dead In Phuket Air Crash

BANGKOK, -- The death toll from yesterday's air crash in Phuket has risen to 89 as six people remain in critical condition at three hospitals on this resort island.Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said four of the injured had more than 50 per cent burns.He said healthcare experts, including pathologists, had been flown to Phuket to assist in the treatment of the injured and undertaking DNA testing.

"We've already completed 30 to 40 DNA tests. We have expertise in body identification after the tsunami (in 2004)," he told reporters at the Don Muang Airport here today.All the DNA tests would be completed within two days, he said, adding that the Foreign Ministry would make arrangements to send the bodies of foreign victims to their respective countries with the assistance of foreign embassies here.

The One-Two-Go plane from Bangkok to Phuket was carrying 123 passengers, mostly foreign tourists, and seven crew members when it skidded off the runway after landing during heavy rain.Both the Indonesian pilot and his Thai co-pilot were killed.Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the government would provide assistance to the survivors and victims' families.

"I've already told the relevant agencies to provide all the help to those affected," he said after meeting relatives of the victims at Don Muang Airport.Surayud also stressed that the country's aviation industry was of international standards and the tragedy would not affect its image.The Airports of Thailand (AOT) said it would reopen the Phuket International Airport at 5pm today after temporarily closing it for relief work.

However, several airlines flying to Phuket said they would not sell any tickets until further confirmation from AOT, and instead told passengers to fly to Krabi and take a two-hour drive to Phuket.

A Thai Airways official said seven flights to Phuket had been cancelled while all tickets to Krabi were sold out.Airlines such as Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and One-Two-Go said they were not selling any tickets to Phuket until late in the evening.

-- BERNAMA