Following the devastating earthquake of March 11, 2011, the Superior of the Japan-Korea Delegation, Fr. Wenceslao LAGUIDAO, sent the following e-mail to Fr. Camille PICHE, Director of the JPIC General Service in Rome.
Japan is being shaken from its foundations! It was the strongest earthquake in Japan's recorded history. There are still different opinions as to the intensity but somewhere near 8.8 on the Richter scale. The number of dead and missing has surpassed a thousand and will continue to rise. Another opinion is that there were two different earthquakes that happened almost at the same time.
It is the break of dawn now (I am preparing to go for the morning mass) and the news is saying that another big earthquake has happened on the other side of Japan (eastern side); nothing to do with what happened yesterday! What will happen next? We leave all to the Lord.
The Oblates are far from the disaster area but the anxiety is intense. It brings memories of the Great Kansai earthquake some 16 years ago. The stench of death came to our doorsteps!
I still am trying to find where Jack DEELY is. He lives in Tokyo and the telephone lines are down due to heavy load.
Please continue to pray for the victims and their families.
Will let you know more as the aftermath of this disaster unfolds.
Fraternally,
Wency Laguidao, omi
