Catholic nun Clare Theresa Crockett died in the earthquake which struck Ecuador on 16 April
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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/ AFPAmongst 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.
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.
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