Dominican firefighter is T.S. Chantal’s first fatal victim

Santo Domingo.- A member of the Fire Department in the central city of Bonao on Wednesday became Tropical Storm Chantal’s first fatal victim, while the torrential rains are expected to cause major damages and evacuations.

Firefighter Juan Ramon Rodriguez, 26, a resident of the town of Maimon was killed while trying to clear debris from a storm drain and release the rainwater.

His colleagues couldn’t save him from drowning when he fell and was swept away by the rushing waters, becoming the first victim in Chantal’s wake.

The Emergency Operations Center has lifted the hurricane warnings, but flash flooding and landslide advisories continue across the country.