By Catholic News Agency - Catholic News Agency
Photographer: REGINALD LOUISSAINT JR | AFP via
A man walks past a church destroyed during an earthquake in Les Anglais, Haiti on Aug. 14, 2021. The death toll from Haiti's powerful earthquake jumped to over 1,200 on Aug. 15, 2021, as crews desperately dug through collapsed buildings for survivors in the Caribbean nation still reeling from its president's assassination. In Les Cayes, as in other hard-hit cities on the southwestern peninsula, most of the population spent the night sleeping outdoors in front of their houses -- or what remained of them -- amid fears of new aftershocks.
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Catholic News Agency and staff reports
Updated Aug. 17, 2021 to reflect new numbers of dead and injured; names of deceased priests; and more information on churches that were damaged or destroyed.
LES CAYES, Haiti | Cardinal Chibly Langlois, bishop of Les Cayes, was among the estimated 6,900 injured during the 7.2 intensity earthquake that shook Haiti early in the morning of Aug. 14, 2021, and a Catholic priest is among the more than 1,400 people estimated to have died.
Killed in the quake was Father Emile Beldor, who was in the residence with the cardinal. Father Jean-Antoine Coulanges is reported missing; two women who took care of the household also have been reported dead. Next door to the bishop's residence, the Catholic radio station was unharmed, but Sacred Heart Parish Church in Les Cayes was destroyed.
Voice of America reported that 18 people, assembled for a baptism, were killed in Immaculate Conception Parish church of Les Anglais.
In the Diocese of Jérémie, the Catholic charitable agency Caritas reported the total destruction of the parish church in Corail.
Further south, on the dusty road that leads toward the westernmost point of the island at Anse d'Hainault, a deep fissure in the road at Port-à-Piment cut off the remote region from the rest of the country.
Other church structures were reported damaged, including Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Port-à-Piment and a dispensary in the neighboring town of Roche-à-Bateau.
In Cavaillon, northeast of Les Cayes, the parish church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was destroyed, as were the town hall and the police station.
St. Anne's Church in Anse-à-Veau was also severely damaged, and St. Peter's Church in Barraderes collapsed.
Bishop Joseph Gontrand Décoste of Jérémie called on the international Catholic community for help to rebuild. The diocesan cathedral's roof was ripped off for the second time in less than five years.
"The population is desperate and beleaguered. They are sleeping outside under the trees, in open public spaces, to protect themselves from aftershocks arriving every few hours," Bishop Décoste told Vatican News a few hours after the earthquake struck. "We are in distress. We are counting on your solidarity, your proximity."
According to Jennifer Poidatz, vice president of Humanitarian Response for Catholic Relief Services, this weekend’s earthquake was both stronger and shallower than the one that devastated Port-au-Prince in January 2010, although it affected a less densely populated area. The damage was felt most stronglyin the department of Nippes, approximately 80 miles west of Port-au-Prince.
Speaking to ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish language news agency, Akim Kikonda, director for Catholic Relief Services in Haiti, said that Cardinal Langlois "is hurt, but his life is not in danger." Langlois, 62, is the first Haitian cardinal, created by Pope Francis Feb. 22, 2014.
"CRS has spoken with the priestly residence in Les Cayes and we have reports that the house has been severely damaged. Unfortunately, we were informed of three fatalities, one priest and two employees," Kikonda said.
Kikonda also reported to ACI Prensa that “all of CRS personnel are safe and sound, but unfortunately one of our employees’ wife died and his baby is gravely injured."
The earthquake happened at 8:30 a.m. local time, affecting all the country, but especially the region of Les Cayes, in the southwestern region of Haiti. The Catholic dioceses affected include Les Cayes, Jeremie, and Anse-a-Veau and Miragoane.
Kikonda also said that the local public hospital has been overwhelmed by the number of emergencies and is turning away most of the injured. "We are currently evaluating the extent of the damage... Once we have a full evaluation of the injured, dead and affected, we will proceed to provide emergency services, especially to the poorest and most vulnerable people."
Affected families are feeling aftershocks. Making matters worse, tropical storm Grace was projected to pass over the affected area Aug. 16, dumping several inches of rain that would hamper rescue efforts and could trigger deadly landslides.
“People in Haiti are already facing widespread food insecurity due to drought and political and economic instability,” Poidatz said in her report, which was shared with Archbishop Thomas Wenski. He celebrated the 8 a.m. Creole Mass at St. Mary Cathedral Aug. 15, feast of the Assumption. The cathedral in Les Cayes is named after Our Lady of the Assumption.
Images from around Les Cayes show dozens of collapsed and damaged buildings, Poidatz reported. Communications have been interrupted due either do damaged infrastructure or high demand that is overwhelming system capacity.
She said CRS and local partners, including the local Catholic Church, have a strong presence and history across southern Haiti, and have staff, offices, and programs based out of Les Cayes and Jeremie, although the offices in Les Cayes sustained significant damage.
Two senior leaders from CRS’ Haiti country program were en route to Les Cayes, and CRS’ humanitarian response department was mobilizing surge and technical support. CRS has emergency supplies prepositioned both in-country and with suppliers in Panama, Poidatz said.
Following news of the earthquake, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued the following statement:
“On behalf of the bishops of the United States, I wish to express my heartfelt prayers for the people of Haiti who are mourning the loss of loved ones and are suffering from the destruction caused by the earthquake that took place this morning. We offer our prayers to Archbishop Launay Saturné, president of the bishops’ conference of Haiti, and to all those who tirelessly serve the faith communities in Haiti. We stand in solidarity with the Church in Haiti in offering our prayers, in a particular way this weekend as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.
“In these moments of continued trial, may you feel the comfort, compassion, and embrace of our Blessed Mother. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, patroness of Haiti, intercede for us!
“Catholics and all people of good will may assist in the relief work by contacting Catholic Relief Services. I am grateful to all who can support the relief effort for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.”
At the Angelus Prayer on Sunday in the Vatican, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to Haitians and offered prayers for the victims of Saturday’s earthquake. The Holy Father also urged the international community to show support and solidarity to help the country lighten the consequences of the tragedy.
HOW TO HELP
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami is collecting financial donations for Haiti relief. Go to ccadm.org to donate.
Photographer: COURTESY
A picture of the destruction caused in the area of Les Cayes by the 7.2 earthquake that struck the southwestern part of Haiti the morning of Aug. 14, 2021.
