Lister ‘Feels’ Ecuador’s Pain After Earthquake
[Written by Don Burgess]
Former Cabinet Minister Terry Lister says he can only imagine how “terrified” the people of Ecuador are after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the South American nation on Saturday killing at least 413 people.
Mr. Lister has been in Ecuador for the past five weeks and left Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, Saturday morning for the Galapagos just hours before the killer quake struck.
CNN reported one witness in Guayaquil as saying: “Everybody in my neighborhood was screaming, saying it was going to be the end of the world.”
Mr. Lister plans on flying back to Guayaquil on Sunday. When he found out about the earthquake he said: “I was stunned by the fact that it happened and that it was as devastating as it was. In January 2015, when I was based in Panama, I experienced five minor earthquakes in a three-week period.
“The worst was at 4am and the shaking and swaying in the bedroom was such that I decided to go out in to the yard until it was over. What happened on Saturday is hundreds of times worse and so I can imagine how terrified people were when it came out of nowhere.”
The former Education Minister said he has found the Ecuadorean people have been very kind and caring and this tragedy has been compounded by bad weather over the past month.
“My experiences have all been positive and thus I truly feel for the nation. What makes this even worse is that in recent weeks there have been heavy rains in the coastal region along with some of the interior region, which has washed away roads and caused considerable damage,” he said.
“On Thursday, when travelling through the Andes on my way to Guayaquil, at least twice the bus head to be diverted around parts of the road that had been washed away. So for the people of these areas this is a double blow.”
He said his greatest concern is some form of immediate housing for the many whose homes have been destroyed.
“My present plan is to return to Guayaquil on Sunday and at that point I will be able to assess for myself that state of affairs.”
Hmmm….The great Terry Lister surfaces.
We do feel sorry for Equador’s horrific circumstances but Lister, we feel sorry too for YOU deserting your people.
Enjoy the day!!!
Backbone, you prove everyday that, ignorance has no limits!
TO KANGOOCAR
Same sentiment applies to yours truly when the bulk of your comments reflect—-!!
What about …starving to death….killing each other off…do not forget!!!
Those comments from you were the most horrifying, most distasteful!!!
I thought that’s what former premier brown did.
@have some backbone……..ridiculous statement……SMH
So sorry, Hurricane….it is the TRUTH!!!!!
Yes, your statement is ridiculous is the truth.
Where is fey ?
(Way) Out of touch with the average bermudian.