Emergency center raises Puerto Plata to yellow alert, keeps 21 provinces green as trough brings heavy rain to the Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo — The Emergency Operations Center (COE) raised Puerto Plata to a yellow alert on Wednesday night and kept 21 provinces on green alert as a trough system is expected to bring heavy rain across the country from Thursday through Saturday.

The provinces on green alert are San Cristóbal, Greater Santo Domingo, the National District, La Vega, Barahona, San Pedro de Macorís, Pedernales, Azua, Peravia, Dajabón, Santiago Rodríguez, Santiago, Valverde, Monte Cristi, La Altagracia, Espaillat, La Romana, Independencia, Bahoruco, San José de Ocoa and Monseñor Nouel.

According to the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), the trough at several levels of the troposphere, combined with local effects, will produce locally moderate to heavy showers, thunderstorms and occasionally strong wind gusts. Indomet director Gloria Ceballos warned that rainfall accumulations could exceed 200 millimeters over three days, with the heaviest totals in the southwest and along the Caribbean coast, and up to 100 millimeters in Greater Santo Domingo alone.

The COE urged residents not to cross rivers, streams or ravines with high water volumes and to avoid using swimming spots in the provinces under alert. The newspaper elCaribe reported Thursday that Santiago is already experiencing flooding in homes, schools and neighborhoods — including La Otra Banda, Rafey and Santiago Oeste — as well as the rescue of a woman who was dragged by water near an uncovered manhole on the Circunvalación Sur highway.

Photo: RD Noticia

Source: RD Noticia