News from near the epicenter--RC bishop of the Andaman Islands

Port Blair (AsiaNews) – In a message that has reached AsiaNews, Aleixo Dias, Bishop of Port Blair, capital of the Andaman Islands, writes that according to “information available, over 10,000 people have been killed in my diocese, [. . .] unconfirmed sources [say] the causalities [. . .] could rise to 15,000."
The diocese of Port Blair is one of the hardest-hit areas by the tsunami that pounded south-east Asia on December 26, 2004. Most casualties are said to be in the Nicobar group of islands, south of Port Blair.
Official Indian sources put the death toll at 712 known dead and 3,745 missing out of a population of 350,000. However, the Indian government has not allowed journalists and international NGOs to visit the islands.
The Andaman Islands (500 in total but many uninhabited) are located a few tens of kilometres from the epicentre of the earthquake that triggered a tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean off the island of Sumatra.
In his letter, Bishop Dias writes that the island of Car Nicobar was hardest-hit, an island inhabited by the tribal Nicobaris, most of whom are Anglicans. “Their Cathedral in Car Nicobar,” the text reads, “and the residence of their bishop are said to have been completely washed away. The Bishop himself is said to be marooned somewhere in the jungle.”
Bishop Dias “thanks God” that Church staff—fathers, sisters and our catechists—are well. “But the churches, presbyteries, convents, schools have been totally destroyed.”
Why all this? The Bishop asks. “Thanks to the Lord, in the last 20 years, since I became the first Bishop of this newly created diocese, much development had taken place here, particularly by way of creation of new parishes, convents, schools, hostels, etc. Now with this destruction I am asking myself what message the Lord is giving me and us. I bow before Him and say: Fiat Voluntas Tua.”
“We are doing our best,” the letter goes on to say, “to help in the relief work. [. . .] Thousands of people have been evacuated from the Nicobars by planes and ships and are being brought to Port Blair.”
The Bishop and his assistants are helping the suffering people who lost everything and who have sought refuge in the various camps which have been set up.
“It is heart-breaking to hear their tale of woe. Many of them have saved themselves by swimming, climbing trees, running and spending days and nights in the jungle”.
The Bishop finally urges others to “keep [. . .] us in your prayers and please tell your people to pray for us.”
The diocese of Port Blair includes 12 parishes, 38 priests, 24 men religious and 88 women religious for 38,860 Catholics.