E-Paper
Freezing temperatures in Indonesia kill 95
The temperature dipped to as low as 5 degrees Celsius in a region where the usual temperature is above 20 degrees.
At least 95 people have been killed in the Indonesian province of Papua due to extreme cold temperatures in recent weeks.
The temperature dipped to as low as 5 degrees Celsius in a region where the usual temperature is above 20 degrees.
The cold spell has plagued villages in the Illaga and Gome sub-districts of Papua's Puncak Jaya regency, about 3,870 km northeast of Jakarta.
According to latest reports from health officials, mostly children and aging villagers have died from the extreme weather conditions and other illnesses since late December.
Besides the cold, the victims were suffering from various illnesses, such as acute pneumonia, tuberculosis, dysentery and diarrhoea.
The information was provided by Hendrik Bilanglabi, Head of the Information and Communications office in Puncak Jaya.
He also added that limited food stocks, malnutrition and deteriorating health conditions have increased the high number of fatalities.
The local government administration is currently building "cold-proof" traditional houses, called "honay" to prevent villagers from freezing.
