Belleville, Ill., Mar 1, 2012 / 17:05 pm
The Diocese of Belleville prayed for victims and pledged its help after storms and tornados in southern Illinois killed at least six people and destroyed hundreds of buildings, including a Catholic church.
“We pray for the souls of those who were killed in the tornadoes. And we pray for the deliverance of all those who are injured and homeless,” Fr. John Myler, the diocese’s communications officer, told CNA March 1.
Six died in the town of Harrisburg, which was hardest hit. Five of the deceased lived in duplexes on the same street, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Over 300 buildings there were leveled by the Feb. 29 storm, whose winds reached up to 180 mph in speed. The National Weather Service has initially classified the tornado in its second most powerful category.