(ANS - Honiara)- In the last month two monsoon cyclones have struck the Solomon Islands where there are two Salesian communities.  In Honiara the Salesians have a Technical School, an Agro-Technical Centre and an Oratory.  At Tetere they have a parish and a Rural Vocational Training Centre.  Bishop Luciano Capelli SDB, Bishop of Gizo, sent a statement on the situation to ANS.

In the space of one month we had two strong monsoon cyclones. The second one lasted an extraordinarily long time and the rain was more than we could cope with, especially in the capital Honiara and on the island of Guadalcanal. The little information we have received from the Archbishop of Honiara and the sisters in Tetere illustrates the seriousness of the situation.

The ambulance donated by the Italian Ambassador in Canberra was swept away while trying to save several families. Miraculously, no one died but the ambulance is out of order and totally beyond repair.

The parish of Tetere was totally submerged in water. The hospital, the Sisters’ residence and the school were saved, thanks to the work of volunteers who have raised embankments of gravel. Several bridges were swept away and Tetere is still cut off from aid.

In Honiara things are even worse. The bridge that connects Holy Cross with Chinatown was swept away, as were several houses along the river. There are two confirmed deaths. The main bridge is passable one car at a time and the foundations of the bridge are failing. In the seminary and pastoral centre the flooding is a metre deep. The seminarians are confined to the second floor of the building. The water has reached the library. It is alarming to receive a phone call late at night from 350 km away and not be able to intervene.

The cathedral and Holy Cross hill in Honiara are full of evacuees. At Gizo and Malaita, the situation is a bit nearer to normal but there is still a lot of water, there is no power and people are living in fear. Some volunteers were able to leave early in the afternoon even though Tetere and Honiara ware completely flooded.  At the airport,  the international runway is closed for the time being.

We are experiencing a veritable Way of the Cross. On 2 April we recalled the tragedy of the earthquake and tsunami seven years ago.

Published 04/04/2014