Time on www.inet.co.th is now 2010-03-12 10:00.
This page was last modified on 2005-09-14 19:48.

VICTIM SEARCH ENGINE IS LOCATED HERE.

Searchable databases are available above. But before rushing there, please go through this page so that you are well equipped for the next probable steps.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• For friends, relatives or colleagues of travellers visiting the disaster areas on 2004-12-26 when the tidal waves struck, please contact the authority on your country first. Foreign embassies in Thailand have been working closely with the Thai rescue and medical teams and should have some useful information available in your language.
• Phone numbers for foreign embassies in Thailand.
• Telephone numbering system in Thailand comprises of 9 digits, the first one is always 0 (zero), e.g. 0-1234-5678. When making an international call to Thailand, dial the country code (+66) and skip the preceding 0, then follow by the rest to have a 10-digit IDD number, i.e. +66-1234-5678.
• Local time is 7 hours ahead of UTC.
• Survivors may have experienced psychological trauma, expecially those who have lost members of the family or travel companions. Please consult qualified professional. Children survivors, in particular, should receive special loving care. Visit the traumatic stress page.

The Thai Tsunami Victim Indentification (TTVI) center has released the ante mortem (AM - missing person) form that one must file in order to match the post mortem (PM - autopsy) record before the body is released from morgue. The AM form is Interpol's disaster victim identification standard form. Unfortunately, there is no detail how or where to submit the form!

TTVI does not provide any information about the victims, neither does any statistics or duplication check. Should you want to make an inquiry, make it through your embassy.

IDENTIFYING BODIES (A NON-TECHNICAL VERSION)

There are three "official" ways to identify a body:

1. Fingerprints,
2. DNA matching, and,
3. Dental records

As of 2005-02-21, more than 2000 victims have successfully had fingerprints recovered. Approximately 80% of victims examined have identifiable fingerprints. It is unfortunate that there are only a small number of (ante mortem) fingerprint submissions. Around 21% of these submissions match (post mortem) figerprints recovered. The bodies are identified and returned home. This is the highest rate of success we have seen so far!! Therefore, submission of figerprints are strongly encouraged. This can be done though diplomatic channels.

Some disasters might have relied heavily on DNA matching, the tsunami disaster is different in many ways. Decomposition rate is much slower in dry/cool situation like the 9/11 WTC disaster, or "wet" cases of inorganic compounds like undersea treasure or sunk ships. In the tsunami situation, bodies were drowned in sea water and later recovered to a dry area. When combining with tropical climate, they decay rapidly, both outside-in and inside-out. Keeping the body in temperature-controlled morgue does not stop decomposition process. Despite all these unfortunate conditions, DNA is still collected and some are useable for the indentification process. To understand the accuracy/complexity of this process, see the followings (1) DNA interactive (2) DNA forensics (3) Scale of tsunami tragedy complicates DNA matching (4) interactive DNA profiling tutorial and (5) Forensic identification of 9/11 victims ends.

Dental record, particularly X-ray films, can overcome decomposition problem. If you post pictures of your loved ones on the bulleting boards/web boards, choose picture with a broad smile so that front teeth can be seen. A better approach is to post dental X-ray films and leave email/phone number of the dentist in addition to picture of victims wearing cloths they wore on the day tsunami struck.

Should all the above fail, identification by spotting a picture of clothing or other artifacts also helps. Unfortunately, it may not be enough to claim the body. Cloth may be similar, tattoo can be of a popular pattern.

• Claiming a body of foreign national must be done through embassy or consulate office in conjunction with the TTVI center in Phuket. See also Data Tracking page.
• Getting reference number of the picture helps narrowing down the search and speed up identification process but will not be enough to get the body released. At the TTVI, it has to be either fingerprint, DNA or dental records.

ARRIVING THAILAND TO SEARCH FOR RELATIVES?

OneThailand.com and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are releasing this important information:

This information helps indentifying bodies.

OFFICIAL DNA IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION

The Committee on DNA Identification for Tsunami Victims in Thailand (Ministry of Public Health) has set up a DNA analysis and family matching procedure for the family or next of kin of the victims/missing persons of Tsunami in Thailand.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested all Diplomatic and Consular Missions in Thailand to forward the following documentation to their respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to disseminate to the family or next of kin of the victims/missing persons:

1. The Recommendation for Relatives of Victims of Tsunami in Thailand on the Submission of DNA Profile for the Purpose of Familial Matching with Unidentified Bodies
2. The Missing Person Information Form
3. DNA Investigation Consent Form

The DNA profile and completed forms, together with other requested information, should be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of the victims/missing persons to be sent back through their respective Diplomatic and Consular Mission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

THAI TSUNAMI VICTIMS IDENTIFICATION CENTER

The TTVI center, in Phuket, has released these documents. ** MUST READ **

• Disaster Victim Identification factsheet
• Thai Tsunami Victim Identification Information Management Centre factsheet

FOREIGN INQUIRIES

Foreign inquiries about foreign nationals in the tsunami tragic event should contact the lifeline/emergency center at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Co-ordinating Center, Tel: +66-2643-5262 or +66-2643-5000 ext 5003 and 5502. Fax: +66-2643-5256. http://www.mfa.go.th/

All embassies are requested to keep the Foreign Ministry updated on the number of deaths, injuries, names of missing persons as well as those who have already been in touch with the embassies' officials and/or returned safely to their home countries.

In the disaster areas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up One Stop Service Centers in 3 provinces to provide services for information on deceased victims and release of bodies as well as issuance of Death Certicates and legalization.

THAI RED CROSS SOCIETY: CALL FOR DONATION

For additional information, please refer to the donation information page.

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