Rainfall in the Dominican Republic affects 2,360 people and 590 homes; emergency agency keeps nine areas under yellow alert

SANTO DOMINGO, October 23.— Rains recorded in recent days across much of the Dominican Republic have affected 2,360 people and 590 homes, according to the situation report released Friday by the Emergency Operations Center (COE), which identifies Santiago and Puerto Plata as the hardest-hit provinces. This is a follow-up to the previous day's alert report.

The consolidated report, with data cut off at 7:30 a.m. and covering October 21 to 23, states that urban flooding in Santiago hit several sectors: Hoyo de Caimito, with 101 homes affected; Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, with 40; the La Gloria neighborhood in Cienfuegos, with 36; El Ingenio, with 20; and El Ensueño, with 35. The preliminary collapse of a perimeter wall of one home was also reported. The COE said conditions have returned to normal in the affected areas.

No deaths, destroyed homes, evacuations or damaged bridges have been reported so far, and the agency keeps its contingency plans for hydrometeorological events active. The COE raised nine jurisdictions to yellow alert: the National District, Santo Domingo province, Puerto Plata, Pedernales, Independencia, Bahoruco, Barahona, Espaillat and Santiago; another 16 provinces remain under green alert.

The Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) attributes the rainfall to a trough at various levels of the troposphere, warm southeast winds and high humidity, and forecasts continued locally heavy downpours with thunderstorms and wind gusts through the afternoon and early evening.

Photo: 7 Días

Source: 7 Días