Anglican parish communities in Chile, hit by a serious earthquake ”” the fifth-largest on record ”” that devastated the city of Concepción last Saturday, are sheltering together in tents for safety and to share food and water, says their Bishop, the Rt Revd Héctor Zavala.
Bishop Zavala was expected to arrive in Concepción on Wednesday after travelling for at least ten hours across broken roads. On Tuesday, he asked his colleague Ricardo Tucas to send the following report:
“[The Bishop] is now travelling to the devastated region of ConÂcepción, which holds three of his urban churches, and was near three other rural congregations in the High Mountains of Bio-Bio. Four days following the massive earthÂquake in Chile, many towns are still completely isolated . . .
“Andy Bowman, until recently a USPG Mission Companion in Concepción, said: ”˜From the comÂmunications we have had with people in Santiago in the north, the situation in Concepción seems desperate. Half a million people in Concepción are isolated, without water, electricity, shelter, and food. Shops have been looted and civil unrest appears to be widespread. Seven thousand Chilean troops have been sent to the area to maintain order.
Prayers for the church and people in Chile.