PHUKET: An exceptional number of flies have been noted on Phuket after the latest heavy monsoon rains, a meeting at Provincial Hall in Phuket City heard today.

The Director of the Phuket Provincial Health Office, Dr Sak Tenchaikul, said the flies could be found on Phuket at this time each year but were greater in number this year because conditions were favorable.

Garbage continued to build higher and higher because Phuket's two incinerators were not operating fully and could only dispose of a fraction of Phuket's daily trash.

President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, Paiboon Upatising, agreed that flies were more prevalent in shops on Phuket. The flies had a 28-day life cycle, he said.

Flies were attracted to food whether it was on a dining table or in Phuket's garbage ''mountain.''

Some cases of food poisoning among tourists could be attributed to flies, Khun Paiboon said, urging shopkeepers and restaurateurs to do what they could to shoo them away.

Disposal problems at the trash depot at Saphan Hin in Phuket City, where all of Phuket's garbage is taken, were also creating a breeding ground for flies, the Phuket City meeting heard.

Phuket was producing 700 tonnes of waste each day but could only dispose of 100 at present, the meeting heard. The old incinerator is not working and the new incinerator is functioning at just a fraction of its capacity.

Chemical sprays are usually used but the monsoon downpour had washed away the chemicals used to suppress flies, the meeting was told.

A Phuketwan team recently visited the Phuket garbage dump after the heavy rains and it appeared toxins were being leached into surrounding areas.

Reporters noted a couple of youngsters had picked herbs nearby and were taking them off to sell somewhere.

Vice Governor Dr Sommai Preechasin chaired today's meeting of administrators and private business leaders, which regularly examines Phuket's problems.