Hanoi ( AsiaNews)
- After the Philippines the passage of Typhoon Haiyan has caused floods and
landslides in Vietnam, where 19 people were killed and over 80 thousand have
fled from their homes . The
province most affected is that of Quang Ngai , where military and police are
trying to bring humanitarian aid to the population. Also
the bordering area of Quang Nam suffered considerable damage: over 16,600
people have no shelter for the night.
A
local government official in charge of aid, Nguyen Hoai Phuong, explains:
"The floods have affected everything. Between 60 and 80% of the area of
Hoi An and the other two districts are submerged. Now the waters are receding,
but slowly". The area that has suffered most casualties is
Binh Dinh , where 12 people were killed and 2 are missing.
Meanwhile,
the Philippines is observing a day of fasting and prayer invoked by the
Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal . Tagle , to
express solidarity with the victims of the typhoon. In
a letter sent to the diocesan clergy, religious and the community of the
faithful , the cardinal asked everyone to spend the whole day in penance ,
meditation and fasting.
The
initiative, called " Day of Tears and Hope : solidarity through prayer
" expresses "the sense of communion and solidarity that has emerged
these days among the people of the Philippines ." The
same Card Tagle will lead a prayer and hour of adoration at 8 pm , at the
parish of San Fernando de Dilao in Manila.