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SQ Special Part One - Tragedy in Taipei
Telecast: 4th November 2000, 10.30pm

SIA had arranged for family members to be flown out to the crash site and by the second day of the crash, family members and relatives had arrived at the Taipei airport. But their wait was far from over as the bodies had to be identified before family members could claim them.

Mrs Tan Wai Fun, Head (DNA Laboratory), Department of Scientific Services
"In order to compare them, we need the blood samples from the parents and siblings and once they are in, we can then establish the identities of the bodies from which originated from. When all these are complete then we can give you complete analysis "

For bodies whose extent of damage were severe, the best way to ascertain their identities was through DNA matching.

But the process was time consuming. As the hours ticked by, and the death count grew, worried relatives grew impatient.

Dr Gilbert Lau, Director (Forensic Pathology), Department of Forensic Medicine
"With respect to the use of DNA profiling to identify these victims, you must understand that it is not sufficient merely to obtain samples from the victims themselves. In order that a positive identification be made, it is important to identify the individual genetic profile of these victims of the blood relatives. You can imagine it can involve a large number of people and it can be logistically difficult to coordinate large numbers of samples which come in at different time.Under these very trying conditions, one can imagine how difficult to get all the requisite samples in. So all these will actually conspire to make DNA profiling not at all easy task and the time frame can be highly variable, anything from days to perhaps even weeks to make a positive identification. It is important that we do not compromise accuracy for speed because in the course of applying DNA technology in a mass disaster such as this. One has to be particularly cautious not to make mistakes because we do not want to mix up one body with another."

According to scientific reports and analysis, DNA matching is touted to be over 99 percent accurate. Used as a last resort, it is the best method of identification and verification of human remains after a mass disaster such as this.

Added Dr Lau: "I imagine that it would be important in so far as the person is properly identified, because one has to say who died. To arrive at a positive identification of any victim, subsequent claims for the victim, then DNA sampling would play an important role."

So far, 53 bodies have been identified. And arrangements are underway to transport these bodies back to their families. This means about 28 bodies are yet to be identified.

For 40 other families their anguish and worry intensify with the waiting. They continue to watch, pray and hope, while a team of doctors try to save the lives of those they love.

For those who survived, emotional scars aside, there are those who have also suffered severe burns from the crash. The factors which may determine if they survive are the age, gender, extent of surface involved and the depth of the burn

In a victim who has suffered third degree burns,for example the skin is damaged to the point of skin death. This means the skin is white and without sensation.This damage to the skin will predispose the burn victim to infection, which would lead to further complications.

In addition to that, the total area burn is also significant. This is measured in terms of percantage of total body burnt. According to a research conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital, a serious injury of burns covering more than 40 percent surface and the presence of inhalation injury would increase the risks.

But the good news is with modern treatment, it has been reported that survival rates for burn victims have improved dramatically.

In fact, at least 2 victims who had suffered burns are expected to get treatment at the Singapore General Hospital's National Burn Centre. The head of SGH's department of plastic surgery said that the Skin Bank at the Burn Centre has enough skin supply to treat the patients.

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