To Our Concerned Brothers and Sisters: This is a late news about the natural disaster that hit aitape yesterday, Friday evening, since our phone line has been quite low. I presume you have heard on the news [CNN & other international broadcast] that a tidal wave hit Aitape minutes after a tremor or about intensity 7. Four villages have been washed out: Nimas [Sissano], Warapu, Arop and Teles. Aitape was also hit, but the Aitape point saved the town. Damage started from near the shore of St. Anna community School up to Tarau point. There were no more damages reported beyond Tadji. Due to the emergency situation, the Mission hospital which was closed the day before due to lack of fund from the government was re-opened. The doctors from the bush area of the diocese of Aitape flew over to the coast to help in the emergency situation. Several people were injured, hundreds still missing, and the death toll is rising As of midmorning, only one phone line was working in Aitape. By mid afternoon, all lines went off. The Father's house and the church of Sissano have been damaged. We do not have the details yet. Fr. Giles, parish priest of Sissano was in Aitape at the Lepro village at the time of the trmor and tidal wave. Fr. Otton, is safe, and arrived in Aitape before mid-day. We have yet to hear his story. The provincial emergency and disaster division already flew over the area to assess the situation. The prime minister will also visit tomorrow. Hopefully relief already started to flow in since four thousand have been rendered homeless and all their belongings gone. If anyone is moved to help, please address to Fr. Austen Crapp, OFM, the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese since we lost Bishop Brian, OFM to be the Archbishop of Port Moresby. The Address: P. O. Box 179 Aitape, WSP 553, via Wewak, PNG Ed Armenta, OFM