Coal mines linked to malaria

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Abandoned coal mines could be a source of malaria in the province, the head of the health ministry's provincial office here, Suwandi Makmur, said on Saturday.

Quoting research by the Surabaya-based Technical Institution for Environmental Health, Suwandi said several abandoned mines were home to anopheles mosquitoes, which carry the disease.

He said abandoned mines were found in seven of 10 regencies here.

"The abandoned mines are flooded during rainfall and host anopheles mosquitoes," Suwandi told Antara. He warned that malaria would continue to be a problem in the province if the mines were not reclaimed.

He also said the trucks belonging to mining companies operating in the area posed another risk to residents. "Some residents have complained about lung problems caused by dust spread by the trucks." (04)