| Thailand's rescue services were struggling to cope with the aftermath of Sunday's earthquake and sea surges, as the official death toll doubled. Rescue workers said at least 839 people had died and thousands were injured, as bodies continued to be found. There were dramatic reports of rescues at the worst hit areas, including at tourist resorts on the west coast. The island of Phi Phi, famous as the location of the 1990 film The Beach, is reported to have been devastated. At least 200 tourists and islanders were airlifted from the island by helicopter, but scores more are still missing. A photographer with the AFP news agency, who reached the island on Monday, said hardly a building had been left standing. "I see one building standing and it is the Phi Phi hotel," he said. Thai officials raised the national death toll after more bodies were found in the province of Phang Nga, where 528 people are now known to have died. The toll in Phuket, one of the country's busiest tourist resorts, was unchanged at 130. Bodies continued to arrive at makeshift morgues in Phuket on Monday. |