austraLasia #1777

Durian destroyer: Don Bosco Legaspi, Don Bosco Naga mop up

MANILA: 8th December 2006 -- Cyclone Durian (typhoon Reming in Filipino terms) devastated the southeastern end of Luzon island, Philippines, an area that contains six provinces, some outlying islands - and two Salesian centres, one in Legaspi, the other Naga.  Don Bosco Agro-Mechanical Technology Centre is in the city of Legaspi, and Don Bosco Training Centre as well as the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is in Naga city.  The Salesians have been in the region for the past eleven years. The entire area is known as the Bicol region.
    Milenyo passed through last September.  It was a 'supertyphoon', packing winds of 190 kph. Reming (Durian) was stronger still. Between the two, enormous damage has been wrought.  The Salesian structures, built in quite recent times with the knowledge that the region is visited by strong typhoons throughout the year (three of the 'super' variety this year alone), are built to withstand most of nature's onslaught - but not this time.  It was mainly roofing that suffered, and of course crops and trees.
    It is the people served by these Salesian communities who have suffered the most.  Wind gusts of up to 225 kph did severe damage to residential areas in Legaspi and Naga.  700 villages around Mt Mayon (the highest volcano in the area with reputedly the world's most perfect volcanic cone) were completely buried and it is estimated that thousands may lie beneath the mudslides - official figures of those 'missing' are around the 2,000 mark at present.
    The North Philippine Salesian province of which these two settings are members, has appealed for assistance, especially to help serve the thousands of people associated with them directly in these two badly hit cities. The Rector Major's 'solidarity fund' administered through the Missions Department will be amongst those responding to this appeal.
    Meanwhile Durian has torn into Vietnam's Vung Tau province.  There is no news currently of damage to Phuoc Loc, the Salesian Immaculate Conception parish and technical centre community.
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