select.options.length

function callback1(data){
if(data != null )
     {
      
         var areaId = document.getElementById('areaId');
         areaId.options.length=1;
       for(var i=0 ;i<data.length;i++)
       {
               var value = data[i].split(':')[0];
               var text = data[i].split(':')[1];
               areaId.options.add(new Option(text,value));
            }
        }
}