5266(IV)_Typhoon causes severe damage to Salesian agricultural school in Legazpi, Philippines

Appeal also launched to assist families

December 04, 2019

By ANS

Legazpi, Philippines, 4 December 2019 -- Super typhoon “Kammuri” is ravaging the Philippines at the moment causing serious disruption and four victims thus far due to the storm-force winds and incessant rain still lashing the archipelago. The Salesian work at Legazpi has suffered heavy damage from the typhoon.

“We really do need help” the Rector of the work, Fr Ronillo Javines, shared on Facebook.

The Salesian work in Legazpi is an agricultural school with extensive buildings and land. IT offers marketable skills to poor young people form rural districts.

Damage has been considerable: the oratory chapel, sacristy, ministry office, windows in workshops and classrooms, sports equipment, the roof housing staff from the boarding section, the agro-mechanics building, stalls, harvesting areas as well as plantations: maize, cacao, citrus (lime), pili nuts, bananas, tomatoes, bell peppers and other crops.

Kammuri is currently tracking across the South-East of Luzon and will continue towards the North-West where it will finally leave the Philippines for the China Sea on Thursday 5 December, when it will be downgraded to a tropical storm.

“We are launching an appeal, especially our students' families whose homes have been severley damaged by the typhoon” Fr Javines concluded.