(Vatican Radio) At least nine people were killed and nearly 1,000 injured after a strong quake hit southwestern Japan, toppling houses and leaving thousands without power.Listen: The magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck at 9:26 p.m local time on Thursday near the city of Kumamoto, on one of Japan’s four main islands. The hardest hit area was the town of Mashiki where eight alone were killed.More than 44,000 people were evacuated to schools and community centres, some spending the night outside after the first quake hit.Scientists from Japan's Meteorological Agency have warned "relatively strong" aftershocks are expected in the coming days which could cause landslides and more buildings to collapse.Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said a number of homes had collapsed but also stressed that there were no reports of any irregularities at any of the country’s nuclear facilities.More than 3,000 troops, police and firemen have been ...
(Vatican Radio) At least nine people were killed and nearly 1,000 injured after a strong quake hit southwestern Japan, toppling houses and leaving thousands without power.
Listen:
The magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck at 9:26 p.m local time on Thursday near the city of Kumamoto, on one of Japan’s four main islands. The hardest hit area was the town of Mashiki where eight alone were killed.
More than 44,000 people were evacuated to schools and community centres, some spending the night outside after the first quake hit.
Scientists from Japan's Meteorological Agency have warned "relatively strong" aftershocks are expected in the coming days which could cause landslides and more buildings to collapse.
Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said a number of homes had collapsed but also stressed that there were no reports of any irregularities at any of the country’s nuclear facilities.
More than 3,000 troops, police and firemen have been sent to the affected area, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said more would be sent if needed.
Japan suffered a major earthquake in 2011 which left 20,000 people dead and triggered and tsumani and a nuclear meltdown at its Fukushima power plant.
null / Credit: Peter Hermes Furian via ShutterstockACI Prensa Staff, Apr 19, 2024 / 15:00 pm (CNA).The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) on April 19 condemned the kidnapping and murder of a catechist in Burkina Faso, West Africa.In a news brief, ACN informed ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, that catechist Edouard Yougbare was kidnapped on Thursday night by "terrorists, and his lifeless body was found near Zigni this morning."According to other local sources, along with Yougbare, who was a member of Saatenga parish in Fada Gourma, Burkina Faso, more people were kidnapped and murdered."We are heartbroken by the loss of Yougbare. He served his community faithfully and his death is a devastating blow for the people of Saatenga," lamented Spaniard María Lozano, press and public relations director of ACN International."Catechists in Burkina Faso are on the front lines, risking their lives for the good of their people. Just two months ago, ano...
Pope Francis addresses the faithful at his Wednesday general audience on March 27, 2024. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Apr 19, 2024 / 10:07 am (CNA).In the latest move in Pope Francis' reform of the Vatican judiciary, the pope issued a new motu proprio on Friday on the retirement age and benefits for cardinal judges and magistrates in the Vatican's court system.The April 19 motu proprio states that Vatican magistrates will retire at the end of the judicial year in which they turn 75 and cardinal judges at the age of 80, unless Pope Francis asks them to remain in office beyond the age limit.Magistrates and judges who wish to resign from office before the retirement age can only do so with the approval of the pope.The pope also has the prerogative to dismiss magistrates unable to fulfill their duties at any time. Upon the termination of their duties, magistrates will retain the rights to assistance and welfare provided to Vatican citizens and employees.The motu proprio, wh...
Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow announced on April 14, 2024, the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017. / Credit: The Helena Kmiec FoundationACI Prensa Staff, Apr 19, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski of Krakow, Poland, announced the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017.The prelate said that after the preliminary phase began in December 2022, he made the decision to officially open the process for Kmiec after having consulted the Polish Bishops' Conference and receiving the go-ahead from the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints."With this edict I call on all those who have any document, letter, or information about the Servant of God, both positive and negative, to send them to the Metropolitan Curia of Krakow before June 30," the archbish...
