Everybody has heard of Typhoon Haiyan and the devastation wrought on the Centeral Philippines, due in large part by the mainstream media; but how many have heard of the cataclysmic destruction brought by the terrible 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the same geographic area just three weeks prior to the most powerful storm system ever recorded to make landfall. Most people don’t realize the destructive nature of the quake was at the very least equal to that of Typhoon Haiyan.
Please continue to pray for the people of the Philippines that are suffering from this dual disaster; and please prayerfully consider a most gracious contribution towards the recovery efforts currently underway for both disasters. Remember, 100% of all gifts goes to the very need and are tax deductible.
Following is the first hand account of Saturnino Barace Jr. cousin of Grithcel Barace Miller of Moyie Springs Idaho. Saturnino was the sole survivor of the lateral spreading(large gap where the earth opened up beneath their home) that occoured on Oct. 15, 2013 in barangay Obujan, Antequera , Bohol Philippines .. which is translated below. Here is the English translation of Saturninos story..
On October 15, 2013 at 8:35 am , my mother Emaliana was washing clothes and father Saturnino and Michael and Saturnino Jr. were doing some construction outside, and Shane Jyle was playing with a paper airplane outside the house. We never expected that the earthquake 7.2 magnitude would come so they rushed to the baby(Shane Jyle) but we never expected that the ground would open up (15 meters wide, 350 meters long and 15 meters depth). All five of us got buried under the ground, my father Saturnino Sr. 51 years old, was embracing Shane Jyle 5 years old, Elizabeth-daughter 24 years old was also hugging Shane Jyle and my mother Michael Barace (left) Saturnino Barace (right) Emaliana 48 years old was embracing Elizabeth (who was speech impared) and me,Saturnino Jr. 18 years old, was miraculously buried with my head above the ground and buried for over 6 hours because the trench was so deep that even the rescuers were afraid to help. I was finally rescued at 3 pm that day by my younger brother Michael (16 yrs. old) because he had felt much pain for my cries for help. Michael survived because he ran away from that place as the ground opened up. We got all of the four remaining bodies out the next day Oct. 16, 10 AM because it was so dangerous during the earliest after shocks.
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- The spot where Michael rescued Saturnino and where four died together.
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- Collapse of a neighbor’s house.
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- Rice weighed, rebagged and prepared for distribution to families at barangay Obujan.
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- Woman is weighing the rice to be shared at barangay Obujan.
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- A family receiving rice.
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- Happy man receiving rice at barangay Obujan.
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- Severe damage to church building.
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- House swallowed up by the earthquake.
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- House completely destroyed.
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- Temporary shelter erected.