MANILA (UCAN): Bishop Danilo Ulep of Batanes, called for a show of solidarity with the more than 210,000 people who were affected by Typhoon Krathon [Julian] that lashed across northern tip of the country sweeping towards Taiwan.
In an October 1 statement, Bishop Ulep described the typhoon and its aftermath as “unforgettable,” CBCP News reported on October 2.
“It is during this time of crisis that I exhort each one of you in order for us to join hands together,” the bishop said.
He urged Filipinos to “prove that in the spirit of synodality, we journey together in rebuilding our shattered lives, especially during these moments.”
The bishop pointed out that the typhoon had not spared the cathedral parish in Basco, the clergy house, and the Saint Dominic College of Batanes, among other buildings.
According to a report by the Inquirer, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that some 211,000 individuals have been affected by the typhoon, which includes 3,171 people displaced from their homes.
Among those displaced are 922 people who at evacuation centres and another 2,249 people who took shelter elsewhere.
The damage caused by Typhoon Krathon had reached an estimated 36.34 million Philippine pesos [US$643,876], affecting some 1,000 farmers, the agriculture department said.
The typhoon had attained maximum sustained winds around 120 kilometres per hour with gusts of up to 102.5 miles per hour, the Inquirer reported.
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Bishop Ulep urged Filipinos to share their “time, talent, and treasure with anyone who is badly in need of help,” through support and donations.
“We are expecting the worst but still hope for the best,” the bishop said, asking for prayers.
“I am confident that we shall rise up and recover from this misfortune,” he added.
Typhoon Krathon went on to slam into Taiwan on October 3, bringing mudslides, flooding and destructive winds to the island. Schools, offices and businesses were all shut as the wind toppled trees, knocked over motorcyclists and blew cargo containers from a pier. Air traffic was also brought to a halt, with all domestic flights suspended and around 260 international flights cancelled.
At least two people died, in the storm and thousands were evacuated as of October 4, by which time the typhoon had been downgraded to a tropical depression.
