Singaporean dies in Tentena

PALU, Central Sulawesi: A Singaporean woman identified as Irene Lim Reid, 47, died at the Barito Inn in Gintu village, South Lore district, Poso regency, on Monday. Her body was flown to Singapore via Jakarta on Thursday.

The inn owner, Agus Tohama, said that before she died, Reid suffered from a fever and a cough and had red spots all over her body. However, she declined to be taken to the health clinic in Tentena, a small town near Poso Lake.

She would only take medicine she brought with her, Agus said. On Monday, Agus chartered a car to bring Reid to Tentena but she was dead before the car arrived. The doctor who examined the body said she had died of malaria.

Reid's friend, Mayner Awpon of the United States, developed similar symptoms and is currently being treated at a hospital in Palu. Both Reid and Awpon had been staying at the inn since May 20. -- JP