Heavy rains damage communities, roads, houses, bridges, crops, and displace 2,450 people

Santo Domingo.- Heavy rains in recent days across much of the country have left 13 communities isolated, 2,450 people displaced, and 490 homes affected, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) reported yesterday.

The agency’s report indicates that in Blanco Arriba, Tenares, and Hermanas Mirabal, the communities of Sonador, Blanco Abajo, Los Evaristo, Blanco al Medio, Pueblo Nuevo, and Sector Gran Parada were cut off.

Meanwhile, in Espaillat, Villa Valentina and Batey Ginebra, in Veragua, Las Espinas, Los Moluses, and Ramonal in Jamao are cut off.

The mayor of Gaspar Hernández, Abelito Suriel, explained that the waters have weakened the approaches to the bridge, which will have to be reinforced to prevent it from collapsing.

The COE indicated that in Tireo al Medio, La Vega, the rising river caused flooding in agricultural areas and affected a bridge, cutting off the La Cerca area.

Puerto Plata and the damage

The downpours have caused damage to roads, flooding in neighborhoods, and isolated communities in Puerto Plata.

The tourist road that connects the southeastern part of Santiago suffered landslides. Trees blocked the passage of vehicles, prompting the mobilization of brigades and teams from the Ministry of Public Works early in the morning.

Most of the major rivers in this province, the Bella Vista in Sosúa; Camú, El Limonal, Jacuba (Montellano); Muñoz, San Marcos (San Felipe); Bajabonico, Obispo, Cabía, Caonao (Imbert); Gualete, Belloso, Gualetico (Villa Isabela), have overflowed, sweeping away crops and causing losses to agricultural production.

The community of Bajabonico Arriba was cut off from the municipality of Imbert, and a bridge used by families entering and leaving the area was destroyed.

The Ministry of Public Works partially closed the bridge in the district of Sabaneta de Yásica, which was affected by the downpours. Although Public Works engineers and technicians surveyed the damage, repairs have not yet begun.

Monitoring

The Civil Defense in Puerto Plata is monitoring the phenomenon, which has left heavy rains in mountainous areas and gusts of wind that have caused lightning strikes and landslides in vulnerable areas.

The provincial director of this agency, Wascar García, asked vehicle and motorcycle drivers to exercise caution, as landslides have also been reported on the slopes of the hills along the Navarrete-Puerto Plata highway.

Alert raised to 17 provinces

The COE maintains 17 provinces on alert for possible flooding of rivers, streams, and ravines.

They are in Puerto Plata, Santiago, La Vega, Monseñor Nouel, Espaillat, Hermanas Mirabal, María Trinidad Sánchez, Samaná, La Altagracia, Santo Domingo, and the National District. Duarte, Sánchez Ramírez, San Cristóbal, Monte Plata, San Pedro de Macorís, Hato Mayor, El Seibo, and La Romana remain on alert.

Where it has rained the most

The provinces with the highest rainfall are Hermanas Mirabal, Espaillat, La Vega, Puerto Plata, and San Cristóbal.