PEKANBARU - At least 31 thousand people across 12 districts/sub-districts in Sumatra s Riau province are suffering from a variety of health problems caused by smoke from land and forest fires.

        

"The number is higher than that of last year, which was around 28 thousand," the head of the regional health service, Zainal Arifin, informed newsmen here on Monday.

        

According to data from the province s health service received by Antara, most of the people suffered from respiratory problems.

        

Most of the sufferers have been found in Rokan Hilir district at 6,892, followed by Pekanbaru at 6,543, Siak 2,283, Pelalawan 2,199, Bengkalis 2,194, Rokan Hulu 1,708, Dumai 1,718, Kampar 1,520, Indragiri Hilir 864, and Indragiri Hulu at 708.

        

A lesser number was found in Meranti district at only 684 and Kuantan at 274. A total of 528 people in Riau suffered from pneumonia, while 1,031 others asthma and 751, eye irritation.

        

Pneumonia sufferers in Pekanbaru reached 119, asthma sufferers 370 and skin irritation 353. Total skin irritation sufferers in Rokan Hulu were recorded at 175, according to the data.***(ant)