Panaji, May 3 (PTI): Goa Church today announced that it would collect donations to help earthquake victims in Nepal.

Archbishop of Goa and Daman Fr Filipe Neri Ferrao has asked all the 180-odd churches in the state to make announcements during the regular masses for the parishioners to contribute for the fund.

"We are all aware of the devastating earthquake that hit our neighbouring country of Nepal a week ago, leaving presumably some ten thousand dead and several thousands injured, not to speak of the unprecedented loss of property," the Archbishop said in a circular.

A special account has been opened in a nationalised bank for the same in Panaji.

"The extent of the devastation, which has flattened thousands of villages, will not be known until the end of the ongoing search and rescue operations. Huge populations are rendered homeless and are living like refugees and the outbreak of an epidemic seems to be imminent," he said.

The Church has always risen to such occasions and gone out of her way to extend all possible help to the affected populations, he added.