More people die from diarrhea

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Six more people have died of diarrhea-related conditions in remote villages affected by flooding in the province, bringing the death toll to 16 since contaminated water supplies became prevalent early this month.

A staffer at the South Central Timor health office, Otniel Nomeni, told Antara on Wednesday the latest fatalities were from Tuakole village. Earlier, 10 people died from similar conditions in the neighboring villages of Toineke, Tuafanu and Kiufatu.

Otniel said that with 34 more people receiving intensive medical care, the diarrhea-related mortality toll in Tuakole was expected to increase.

"Access roads to the village are muddy. Medical workers can only reach the area on foot."