What you see above used to be the home of a
United Brethren person in El Salvador.
The Missions Department has sent $10,000 to help.

El Salvador's Two Earthquakes

El Salvador's massive earthquake in January paralyzed the country. Then, three weeks late--just as the dust was settling--another massive quake struck on February 13, hitting 6.6 on the Richter scale and lasting 20 seconds. By February 15, there had been over 150 aftershocks, which had left everyone on edge, wondering if another major quake is underway. This latest quake killed nearly 300 people and left nearly 125,000 homeless.

The worst-hit areas were the central region of El Salvador. The capital, San Salvador, is located in the central part of the country, and most of our church work is in our around San Salvador.

The Missions Department forwarded $10,000 to help provide relief for United Brethren people in El Salvador. Right now, there are homeless UB people sleeping on plastic out in the open. They need our help.

The picture to the right shows one of the UB pastors in El Salvador, Pastor Milton, pointing to a sign over the UB church. "This building is broken into four parts," it was reported.

The money was sent to Francisco Raudales, Superintendent of Honduras Conference. He is going to El Salvador on February 22, and will administer the distribution of the money.

Some affects of the earthquake:

• In Candeleria, Cuscatlan, 90 percent of the buildings were damaged or destroyed.

• Four other towns in San Vicente lost up to 80 percent of their homes.

• Five children and a teacher in Candeleria wre buried in an elementary school, and 15 children perished a short distance away.

• A landslide covered the highway east of San Salvador, just after it had been cleared following the January 13 landslide.

  

Mangled cars on the streets of Las Colinas.

Pastor Walter with a United Brethren woman and her family.

The devastation in Las Colinas.

A temporary home.