PMI starts building public baths

PMI starts building public baths

BENGKULU CITY, Bengkulu: The Bengkulu chapter of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has started building 87 units of public baths and toilets in Sukasari village, Sukaraja district with Rp 450 million (US$54,880) in aid from the Singapore Red Cross and an additional Rp 250 million from PMI.

Construction on the public baths is expected to be finished in five months.

The head of the PMI provincial chapter, Wahiddun Nurdin Djangjaja, said that the Singapore Red Cross had agreed to fund the public bathing facilities after the village was hit by an earthquake registering 7.3 on the Richter scale on June 6, 2000.

"Each unit will be shared by three villagers," he said. "We hope the public baths and toilets will improve sanitation in the neighborhood and reduce possible cases of diarrhea."

A total of 94 people were killed and hundreds of others were injured in the quake that caused Rp 310 billion in material losses. -- Antara