Residents of the city of Jericó, in the Colombian department of Antioquia, are sure that it is the statue of St. Montoya which rescued them from a heavy landslide a week ago because of heavy rains.
The altar with the statue was located on the slope of the mountain from which the landslide descended. Muddy streams flooded the streets and destroyed more than 10 houses. However, none of the locals died or even seriously injured, and the statue itself was not damaged at all.
However, more than a thousand people lost access to their homes and were evacuated.
Local priest Jesus Herrera told reporters:
“We consider it a true sacred miracle that nobody was killed, and Los Aguacates did not collapse.”
Only two people were slightly injured – an elderly woman and a small child. This muddy landslide floods the entire surrounding area, including the city streets.
According to locals, at such a level of disaster, there would have been many more casualties had it not been for the protection of St. Montoya.
The statue of the patron saint of the city of St. Laura Montoya (Saint Laura Montoya), was installed here in 1919, in honor of a true Catholic nun.
She was Colombia’s first saint. Immediately after the statue was erected, worshipers began to visit it, finding it miraculous.
One of the locals says:
“Apart from material damage, we have no reason to cry. I’m sure we were all saved from the miracle the saint gave us. “
Mariana Garces, another resident says:
“Just look at all this horror that is now on our streets. No one can help us, but I think, nevertheless, someone or something intervenes. I already believe that there are spiritual powers in these places, and I am not the most religious person. “
In addition to Heriko, heavy rainfall caused flooding and landslides in six other Antioquia regions, but there the effects were smaller and only 3 houses were completely destroyed.
