AG百家乐在线官网

272 election officials die of exhaustion in Indonesia

The Herculean task of administering a vote which saw 80% of the country's 260 million electors take part has left scores dead.

By Philip Whiteside, international news reporter

Sunday 28 April 2019 16:15, UK

People look at voting information at a polling station during elections in Bogor, West Java
Image: People look at voting information at a polling station during elections in Bogor, West Java
Why you can trust Sky News

More than 270 election officials in Indonesia have died from exhaustion caused by long hours and excessive work.

About 80% of the country's 260 million voters took part in the poll 10 days ago - the first to combine the presidential, parliamentary and regional authority elections.

But the shear amount of work to count the votes by hand has taken its toll on workers.

Officials count ballots at a polling centre in Bali
Image: This polling station in Bali was one of 800,000 across the country

As of Saturday night, 272 election officials had died and 1,878 others had fallen ill, Arief Priyo Susanto, spokesman of the General Elections Commission (KPU), said.

The primary reason given was illness related to overwork.

Some 800,000 polling stations were required to allow the country's diverse population to cast their ballots across its 18,000-island archipelago.

The logistical exercise of allowing such a huge number of people to vote across the 5,000km (3,000 miles) nation has been described as "Herculean".

More on Indonesia

Related Topics:

Indonesia's health ministry issued a circular letter on 23 April urging health facilities to provide urgent care for sick election employees.

Meanwhile, the finance ministry has said it is working on compensation for families of those who have died.

An Indonesian election worker dressed as a ghost welcomes voters in Jakarta
Image: Many of the officials who took part wore fancy dress, like this one in Jakarta, as the poll had a festive mood
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana speak to journalists after he cast his ballot
Image: Indonesian President Joko Widodo, pictured here with his wife Iriana, is thought to have won

The deputy chairman of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto's campaign has criticised the election authority.

Ahmad Muzani said: "The KPU is not prudent in managing the workload of staff."

Independent vote counters said early signs showed incumbent President Joko Widodo was the winner.

But Mr Subianto has alleged widespread cheating and his campaign has claimed some officials punched ballots in favour of Mr Widodo.

The winner of the presidential and parliamentary elections will be announced on 22 May.

Related Topics