Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangkok (Fides Service) - Life continues and hope grows among the people affected by the tsunami a year ago. The southern coast of Thailand and several islands were devastated in the seaquake which killed 5,000 and left numerous homeless. It also affected the tourist industry causing the country serious economic damage.
However, thanks to international aid, intervention by the Thai government and the generosity of many humanitarian workers the situation gradually improved and life has returned to normal although with great difficulty. Over the past weeks many services were held to remember the victims at which also local Catholics were present.
Recently the Papal Nuncio to Thailand, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio visited the area of Phuket carrying the paternal closeness of Benedict XVI to the local community affected by the tragedy. At Our Lady of the Assumption parish in Phuket the Archbishop celebrated Mass for those who died in the disaster. Before the Mass there were prayers in front of a memorial to the victims who came from 36 different countries. Many different commemoration events were organised by civil and religious bodies. The Bishop of Surat Thani, Bishop Joseph Prathan, led prayers attended by Christians of various denominations. In Kao Lak Park near Phangnga Beach Thailand’s Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra laid the foundation stone of a Museum to recall the disaster of the tsunami 26 December 2004.
(Agenzia Fides 11/1/2006 righe 27 parole 271)
