Japan: Catholic parishes help earthquake survivors

Temple gates Katsuo

More than 32 people died in the second of two major earthquakes that struck Japan last week. Catholic parishes in the area appealed for donations to help survivors. In the southern island of Kyushu, more than 100,000 residents remained evacuated on Sunday, cramming into public buildings and makeshift camp sites. Troops handed out water and food, some of it donated by different companies. Some evacuees told Japanese television the shelters are full. Many people resorted to sleeping in cars or camping in makeshift shelters outdoors. Japan's government accepted an offer of help from the United States to send in US military helicopters.

A Catholic parish in the city of Fukuoka was among those asking for donations to help survivors, and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Japan said it was considering how volunteers might best be directed to help. Meanwhile, rescue workers continued to pick through the debris of destroyed homes. At a university accommodation centre that collapsed, 11 people remained missing.

Several hundreds of aftershocks were recorded, and officials cautioned that land weakened by the tremors is now at risk of landslides.

During his Regina Coeli address on Sunday prayed for the victims of the earthquakes in Japan and Ecuador.

Source: Vatican Radio/Japanese Bishops Conference