Tragic footage shows a priest in the Philippines delivering a final sermon to his congregation who sit in boats because their village is sinking into the sea.
Roman Catholic priest Mon R. Garcia III stands at the front of his church with water up to his waist ready to deliver a sermon.
All around him his parishioners sit in boats bobbing on the water inside of the church.
A few brave people choose to stand in the water instead of sitting in the boats.
The church is located in the village of Sitio Pariahan in Bulacan, the Philippines, which has been sinking at a rate of 1.5 inches (4cm) every year since 2003.
Homes have been raised on stilts and now the few remaining residents navigate the paths and roadways by boat.
Despite the waist-high water, the priest was determined to deliver his sermon.
Garcia III said: “I’m willing to celebrate the mass even without people. This is the last mass we can have here. We’ll be leaving this town soon.”
The footage was filmed on May 9 as the village folk enjoyed one final sermon before they were evacuated from the area.
Groundwater pumping and rising sea levels mean that the buildings in the area have all flooded and people are being relocated.
Originally 100 families lived in the village, but that had dwindled to less than 40 by September last year in the area which they call ‘The Island Without Land’.
Sitio Parahan is one of many small towns and villages that are being relocated to make way for a new airport in Bulacan.
Scientists suggest that climate change or global warming is responsible for the rising water levels in the area.
The arrival of Typhoon Ambo, of Vongfong, in the Philippines last week made the situation worse, causing flooding and the 96mph winds damaged buildings.
13,000 people had been forced from their homes by May 15 because of the storm and 48 towns had lost electricity.
SOURCE: Daily Mail, Sam Baker
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