On Tuesday (12/4/12), the very powerful typhoon Bopha (called “Pablo” in the Philippines) came into southern Mindanao. Though the Philippines is hit by over twenty typhoons each year on average, it is very rare for strong typhoons to hit southern Mindanao. This one is reported to be the strongest in over 20 years with sustained winds of over 100mph.
Current reports are that over 500 people are confirmed dead
with several hundred more being missing and feared dead. One report I read from
area media said that unofficial estimate suggest the fatalities may actually be
between 1500 to 2000 or more. Serious injuries from the storm are likewise
growing as officials are able to access these remote areas. Many brethren live
in the mountainous region north of Davao where the storm brought devastating
winds and floods. At this time, no communication has been possible to know if
any of our brethren lost their lives in the storm. Please keep them in your
prayers.
Besides fatalities and bodily injury, the storm has left
over 310,000 without homes as of the last report. Reports from two days ago put
the number of people in public shelters at about 250,000. Food, water and
medical supplies are in very short supply. Often, the number of deaths from
disease after one of these storms equals or exceeds the number killed by the
storm itself.
