Bermuda's Catholic community has raised over $13,000 for the earthquake victims in the Azores.

The mid-Atlantic islands were hit by a strong earthquake -- measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale -- which killed ten people, injured 90 and left 1,000 homeless on July 9.

Bermuda's Peace Plan Group, a Roman Catholic charity which sends emergency supplies to disaster zones decided to make an effort to fundraise for the victims.

Group leader Lucy Willitts approached the leader of the Roman Catholic diocese, Bishop Robert Kurtz, who agreed to have a free-will offering in all local Catholic churches so congregation members could donate money.

The total collected was $13,079. The money will now be sent to the Bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese in the Azores, Bishop Antonio Braga.

Bishop Kurtz said: "I was very pleased with the amount people gave and I am very proud of their generosity.'' BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION WORK ALMOST COMPLETED TRA Bridge construction work almost completed Construction work on Somerset Bridge is nearing completion on time and within budget.

Engineers hope to have the bridge open to traffic again within two weeks, although work at the site will continue while builders knock down the causeway and landscape the surrounding area.

The plan to give the bridge -- a key tourist attraction -- a facelift during the peak holiday season was slammed by many boat operators and some Opposition MPs.

But last night Minister for Works and Engineering Jim Woolridge declared the project a success.

"Everything has been going along smoothly and people haven't been held up while work has been going on,'' Mr. Woolridge said.

"I haven't been told of any extra costs, although the cost of the causeway will have to be taken into account because that wasn't in our original plan.

"We hope to have the bridge open again in about two weeks, some time in the middle of August, although I will have a firm date after I've spoken to the engineers.'' CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER TAKEN TO HOSPITAL HTH Cruise ship passenger taken to hospital A cruise ship passenger was taken to hospital yesterday morning suffering from suspected appendicitis.

The woman visitor was travelling on board the Zenith liner when she began to complain of stomach pains.

An ambulance was waiting at Hamilton Docks ready to take the passenger straight to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital as soon as the liner berthed at 8.15 a.m.

HOSPITAL CHIEFS TIGHT-LIPPED OVER POST HOS Hospital chiefs tight-lipped over post Health chiefs are remaining tight-lipped about applications for a top management post at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The job of project manager for the surgical department had to be re-advertised after a non-Bermudian was initially selected for the key post, causing outrage amongst some nursing staff.

Following mediation talks the Bermuda Hospitals Board agreed to re-advertise the post.

The deadline for applications expired last Wednesday. But last night a spokeswoman for the hospital refused to say how many people had applied for the job or if any of them are Bermudian.

The spokeswoman would only say that the process of choosing a final candidate was now under way, although no details were given as to when that selection will be made.