SPECIAL Report: Typhoon Durian

Albay will never be the same again. Mayon Volcano erupted last summer. It released a huge amount of lava. Odd though, it had not a single ash explosion. So, instead of pulverizing the lava and sending it into the atmosphere, it deposited the ash and rocks on its slopes.

On November 30, typhoon Durian pounded Albay for six hours. It washed tons of that ash and rocks down Mayon’s slopes. The debris quickly filled river beds. Its excess then spread out over other low-lying areas, burying entire communities. The fast-flowing water cut whole new rivers, leaving some subdivisions in the new floodplain.

Early the next morning, we saw now-homeless families wandering the streets. Most carried only a few small bags of possessions. Fallen trees and poles blocked nearly every street. We hoped to visit Camalig and Ligao. But massive erosion undermined the highway in several places. In a few spots, as much as 9 feet of black volcanic sand covered the pavement.

Reports began to reach us. In Camalig, several church members had been forced to flee. Waist-deep mud fills their houses. The storm destroyed a few members’ houses in Ligao and our sanctuaries in Tabaco and Matanag, Legazpi. It damaged our Bible school. 15 feet of volcanic debris covers our new sanctuary in Daraga.

The Macinases are active members of the Daraga congregation. The parents and grown children are very close. Most of them lived near each other. Sadly, that was in one of the lowest areas of town. Mud buried five of their houses. And the youngest child, Mercy, died tragically with her two young children and their nanny.

Few Albayanos will have the same source of income they had before. Rocks fill many rice fields. Coconut trees took a beating. Fruit trees, if still standing, are stripped. Pigs and cows drowned. The stock in stores got soaked. Mud buried countless cars, motorcycles, and public transport vehicles. Even the business of fishermen suffers. Many people will not eat fish for a time out of fear that those fish have eaten human flesh.

Floods destroyed half the stock of the Philippine Christian Bookstore. A Legazpi church family had just moved their auto supply shop to their house. Water damaged most of their parts beyond use. A Daraga church family’s significant inventory of meat products in two grocery stores had to be discarded.

It will take years to restore Albay’s infrastructure. Water and power supplies might be repaired by the end of 2006. But serious study must precede the rebuilding of roads and bridges. Such analysis will also suggest that entire communities need to relocate.

Families that choose to stay will find a way to get by. It won’t be like before. They know that. But they will survive. They belong here. Their relatives are here. Their fondest memories are of events that took place here.

The province will regain its beauty. Spicy food will again attract visitors. Mayon, the mighty magnet, will once more draw the greatest attention. But until then, the people desperately need our prayers for strength, courage, and provision of their daily needs. May the churches be salt and light during this dark and difficult time.

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