'austraLasia # 88

DEVASTATING TIDAL WAVE HITS PNG

Fr. Alfred Meraviglia

Tragedy struck last July 17 (Friday) a few minutes after 7 in the evening. A strong underwater earthquake, which measured 7.0 in the Richter scale, caused tidal waves to hit 5 villages near Aitape.

Waves as high as ten metres pounded the coast for almost 15 minutes literally wiping out entire villages. Since it was dark very few people managed to flee inland. The death toll is estimated to be 1000 at the moment. Aitape is around 80 kilometres from Vanimo where the Salesians

have the school.

The Salesians run Don Bosco Technical High School in Vanimo which is around 650 kilometres

Northwest of Port Moresby. Five Salesians work in the school which opened in 1994. Almost all of the students are boarders since they come from surrounding remote villages. A good number of our students come the villages destroyed. The students were on their 2 weeks term break holidays and were supposed to return to school this weekend. At present it seems that DB Vanimo's School Captain and some other students are reported missing.

Note; the Salesians in Australia are ready to provide assistance to the devastated area. If any readers of 'austraLasia' wish to help, please be in touch with Bosconet via this email address.