Eruption survivors have illness

MAGELANG, Central Java: Hundreds of survivors of the recent Mt. Merapi eruption are now suffering from respiratory and skin diseases, an official said yesterday.

"About 48 percent of the 352 survivors from Kaliurang, Magelang, suffer from respiratory diseases, while the remaining suffer either from skin and eye diseases or diarrhea," Hardho, head of the local government-run clinic of the Srumbung sub- district, told the Antara news agency.

He said the respiratory, skin and eye diseases were caused by the flow of sulfuric smoke, which Merapi continues to emit, while the diarrhea was caused by the sulfur-contaminated water consumed by the survivors.

Hardho said the respiratory, eye and gastric diseases are mostly affecting local residents above seven years of age, while the skin disease has hit children below five years of age.(imn)