Ecuador earthquake: Derry's Catholic nun killed as death toll rises to 350
William Watkinson
Catholic nun Clare Theresa Crockett died in the earthquake which struck Ecuador on 16 April
Home of the Mother / Facebook
A Catholic nun from
Derry has been killed following the Ecuador earthquake – which has now
claimed the lives of 350 people. More than 2,000 were also injured in
the 7.8 magnitude quake which struck 17 miles (27km) southeast of
Muisne, a sparsely populated area of fishing ports on 16 April.
The quake destroyed buildings and roads and cut power along
large swathes of the Pacific coastline. Rescuers are still hunting for
survivors amongst the debris, as victims prepare for another night
outside over fears of aftershocks, of which there have been dozens.
In cities and towns along the coast, officials have arrested dozens
for looting where thieves stole clothes and shoes from the scattered
debris. In Pedernales, gunmen robbed two trucks carrying water, clothes
and other basics.
People working at the Red Cross station treat survivors in the city of Pedernales
Rodrigo Buendia/ AFPA moved Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa visited the disaster-hit city of
Portoviejo on 18 April where he announced the latest death toll and
said reconstructing parts of the Andean nation will cost billions.
Amongst the dead is a Catholic nun from Derry in Northern Ireland who
had starred in the 2002 film Bloody Sunday, based on the Belfast
massacre, alongside James Nesbitt. Sister Clare Theresa Crockett only
joined the religious order after going on a free trip to Spain – not
realising the trip was a pilgrimage. The reformed 33-year-old had
previously told of a wild lifestyle in her teens, partying, drinking and
smoking regularly around the time she had a small part in Paul
Greengrass' critically-acclaimed movie. She had previously played parts
in theatre productions in Derry (Londonderry) .
She said in her personal testimony: "I liked to party a lot. My
weekends, since I was sixteen/seventeen, consisted in getting drunk with
my friends. I wasted all my money on alcohol and cigarettes. One day
one of my friends called me. "Clare", she said, "do you want to go on a
free trip to Spain?" Free trip to Spain, I thought, ten days of partying
in sunny Spain – of course I wanted to go."
Crockett was based at a school in Playa Prieta teaching children how to play th
e
guitar when the quake struck. She has worked for the Catholic Home of
the Mother Order, based in Cantabria in northern Spain, for the last 15
years, joining when she was just 18.
She added: "I went
(to Cantabria) and despite the very superficial attitude that I had
during the pilgrimage, Our Lord spoke very clearly to me. He wanted me
to live like the sisters in poverty, chastity, and obedience."
In a statement confirming her death, Crockett's family said: "On
Sunday 17 April, we lost our daughter, sister and aunt Sister Clare
Theresa Crockett as a result of the earthquake in Ecuador. She was situated in a school in Playa Prieta with the Home of the Mother Order." The last huge earthquake to strike the nation was
in 1979, when at least 600 people died and 20,000 were injured in a
magnitude 7.7 quake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
went and despite the very superficial attitude that I had during the pilgrimage, Our Lord spoke very clearly to me.
He wanted me to live like the sisters inpoverty, chastity, and obedience.
Ecuador earthquake: Derry's Catholic nun killed as death toll rises to 350
Post a Comment