COE raises to 13 the provinces under yellow alert for heavy rains as the trough lingers over the Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo — The Emergency Operations Center (COE) raised this Thursday to 13 the number of provinces under yellow alert, with 12 others kept under green alert, in addition to the National District under yellow, ahead of heavier rains brought by a trough and a humid air mass affecting the country.

The provinces under yellow alert are Santo Domingo, San José de Ocoa, Santiago Rodríguez, San Pedro de Macorís, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Monseñor Nouel, La Altagracia, San Cristóbal, La Romana, El Seibo, Hato Mayor and La Vega, plus the National District. Under green alert remain María Trinidad Sánchez, Monte Plata, Duarte, Hermanas Mirabal, Samaná, Espaillat, Sánchez Ramírez, Valverde, Montecristi, San Juan, Independencia and Elías Piña.

The measure, adopted based on bulletins from the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) and the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (Indrhi), responds to the risk of urban and rural flooding, rising rivers, streams and creeks, as well as landslides. Thunderstorms, wind gusts and possible hail are expected, especially in the afternoon.

The COE urged the population to avoid crossing rivers, streams and creeks with high water flow, not to use beaches in the provinces under alert, and to stay tuned to official bulletins and the instructions of civil protection agencies. For the Atlantic coast, Indomet advised operators of fragile, small and medium vessels to navigate with caution near the coast and not to head out to sea due to unusual winds and dangerous surf.

Authorities said they will continue monitoring weather conditions and did not rule out further changes to alert levels in the coming hours. The trough could intensify downpours over Greater Santo Domingo and the north of the country on Thursday night.

Photo: Red de Noticias

Source: Red de Noticias