Catholic church in the main town of Okoba sub-district, Merauke Regency – Supplied
Merauke, Jubi – A Catholic church in the main town of Okoba sub-district, Merauke Regency, is on the brink of crumbling due to coastal abrasion, with only two meters left, a councillor said.
“We raised this issue during a council meeting several times, but the related office paid little attention. The abrasion has occurred for years due to the huge waves,” said a councilor of Merauke Legislative Council Moses Kaibu at his office on Wednesday (12/10/2016).
Moses said he had visited the Okaba Catholic church and found it was in an alarming condition. The council, he further said, has alerted the Merauke Regional Government, but there had been no follow-up.
In fact, this church is still used for services every Sunday.
“I hope the government will take a prompt action. Do not wait until it is crumpled and later on getting surprise. The related office should take a prompt action to see the current situation in the Okaba Beach,” he said.
Another councilor Tarsisius Awi said the similar thing. “It’s right. There is a coastal abrasion in the Okaba Beach that affect the building of the Catholic Church there,” he said. The related office, he said, should take a prompt action to go to the Okaba Sub-district to see directly about the abrasion instead of waiting the report from the locals. (*/rom)
