PHUKET, Thailand - The Thai Tsunami Victim Identification (TTVI) process has now identified more than 2,000 victims of the disaster which struck on the 26 th December 2004.

The TTVI Information Management Centre (IMC) in Phuket, operating under the authority of the Royal Thai Police, is staffed by police and forensic experts from more than 20 countries, and is responsible for identifying those reported missing.

Today, Wednesday 27 July, a further 24 cases were placed before the Thai authorities, bringing the number identified since the centre opened in January to 2,012.

All identifications are scientifically made by comparison of dental records, fingerprints or DNA. To date, the majority of matches have been made via dental identifications, however DNA is becoming more frequently used and will continue to grow as a means of identifying victims as the process continues.

However, the task is still immense, with more than 1,800 bodies still awaiting identification. Those involved in the process remain committed to ensuring that every effort is made to identify all victims of the tsunami so that they can be returned as quickly as possible to their families and loved ones. DVI teams from countries which no longer have outstanding victims also remain in Phuket as part of the Thai/international efforts, notably New Zealand, Canada and Norway.

Two thousand victims have now been identified through the sheer hard work and determination of the international DVI teams working with colleagues from the Royal Thai Police here in Phuket. There is still a long way to go and the team remains committed to identifying all victims in as short a time as possible.

Contact persons for the media are the TTVI Joint Chiefs of Staff:

Police Colonel Ponprasert Ganjanarintr (Colonel Jon): +66 (0) 11 732 651

Assistant Chief of Police, Norway, Torkjel Rygenstad: +66 (0)4 62 960 22