Mining activities and gravel extraction in Namosi has affected food sources for villages within the area and left the place “like a time bomb”, says the Head of the Catholic Church in Fiji Archbishop Peter Loy Chong.

He said the villages had seen certain fruits and vegetables getting smaller in size since mining began in the area.

Also, hot water has been spouting from a hole that was drilled by a mining company as part of their exploration and they have not been able to stop it.

He said that the villages will be signing a petition to the government to stop mining in the Namosi.