“I had never seen so much water,” says a 74-year-old man in Villa Vásquez

Dam overflows and causes damage the most affected sectors were Savica, Barrio Azul, Brisas del Canal, Los Multis, and La Colonia.

Drowned cows and goats, damage to agriculture, and hundreds of displaced families are the balance left in the municipality of Villa Vásquez, Montecristi province, due to the overflow of the Charcaso dam due to the heavy rains recorded in the early hours of this Monday.

The most affected sectors were Savica, Barrio Azul, Brisas del Canal, Los Multis, and La Colonia, with almost 200 families affected.

Henry Castro, mayor of Villa Vásquez, reported that dozens of people affected by the floods were rescued using a mechanical shovel.

He was shocked by the moment when the machine’s controller was able to remove a mother and a four-month-old child.

The majority of displaced people are located in the homes of relatives and friends. While other families are concentrated around their homes, waiting for the water level to drop to try to rescue their trousseau.

Yolanda Vásquez, a resident of the Azul neighborhood, told Diario Libre that while trying to save her life and that of her 12-year-old son, she saw how the current of water dragged her household items.

“I was left alone with the clothes I have on,” Vásquez said.

Claudio Antonio Tavárez, a victim of Brisas del Canal, said that he only had time to save his motorcycle after taking his children to a safe place.

“The gas tank went past me when I got out on the engine,” Tavarez said.

Julio Almonte, 74 years old, assured that in his lifetime, he had never seen as much water as the one that circulated through its streets today.

“Not even when Cyclone David, which is the biggest thing that had ever passed through here, had brought in so much water,” he commented.

The water current caused by the reservoir’s overflow also destroyed a significant number of goats and cows. In addition, they damaged crops of rice, bananas, and other agricultural products.

Help

The governor of Montecristi, Nelsy Cruz, appeared at the scene and said she is working on creating a committee to assist the affected people.

In addition to the Government, it is integrated by the Social Plan of the Presidency, the Economic Kitchens, and other State agencies.

“We will be assisting in everything they need in Villa Vásquez and other municipalities in the province affected by the rains,” said the representative of the Executive Power in that border province.

Other places affected

In addition to Montecristi, the rains recorded on Sunday night also caused flooding in other towns in the country’s northern region.

A man died after a felled Javilla tree fell on him due to the strong winds recorded last night in the municipality of Sabana Iglesia, in the province of Santiago.

The Civil Defense identified the deceased as Manuel Azcona. At the time of the incident, the victim was covered by the breezes and rains recorded in that demarcation.

In addition to the tree, the wind and rainfall knocked down several power lines and left a large part of the townspeople without power.

While, in the municipality of Santiago de los Caballeros, roads such as avenues 27 de Febrero, Juan Pablo Duarte, Antonio Guzmán, Estrella Sadhalá, Bartolomé Colón, Los Rieles and the Circunvalación Sur were flooded in several sections.

Floods were also reported in Puerto Plata, Dajabón, La Vega, Espaillat and other towns in Cibao.