Rains cause most of Puerto Plata’s rivers to flood

Puerto Plata – The rains have raised most of the rivers in Puerto Plata, and their flow has increased steadily in the last two weeks, although no significant damage has been recorded.

This Friday, journalist Aneudy Peralta reported that the passage from Isabela Histórica to the community of Barrancón is suspended due to a ravine overflowing.

The same situation was recorded in the Yásica Arriba community and surrounding areas due to the flooding of the Yásica River.

The Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Committee remains on alert, monitoring the situation of the different communities and the rivers and ravines that may generate some flooding in the area.

The provincial director of Civil Defense indicated that most of the rivers in the area have experienced flooding, but there have been no major incidents.

He specified that they remain vigilant permanently to deal with any situation that may arise due to the downpours.

Teaching suspended

The Regional Directorate of Education 11 ordered the suspension of teaching in the province’s schools as a precaution against the rains in the area.

Although the rains have only affected, so far, the Bajabonico Arriba school, where the waters penetrated the campus, given the expectations that the rainfall and the level of soil saturation will continue, the Regional Directorate accepted the recommendations of the Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Committee of Puerto Plata.

On Thursday afternoon, the Bajabonico River briefly flooded the school, the baseball stadium, and the Church. Civil Defense, firefighters, and other institutions assisted those affected without major damage being reported.

Initially, the Civil Defense and Prevention Committee had recommended suspending teaching at the Feliz Enrique School, Los Feliz, Imbert, Daniel Vargas Parra School, Altamira, and Pozo Prieto School, Altamira, but yesterday, the Regional Directorate decided to suspend classes throughout the province.

Alerts

The Emergency Operations Center (COE) ratified the meteorological alert levels, maintaining five provinces on yellow alert and 13 on green alert due to the incidence of a trough and an area of disturbances, which will generate downpours.

The provinces that remain on green alert are Dajabón, Monte Cristi, Santiago Rodríguez, Valverde, Santiago, Espaillat, Hermanas Mirabal, Pedernales, Barahona, Monseñor Nouel, Sánchez Ramírez, Hato Mayor, San Pedro de Macorís and El Seibo.

While Puerto Plata, María Trinidad Sánchez, Duarte, Samaná, and La Altagracia remain on yellow alert.

Status Report

The situation report indicates that some 250 homes were affected by the downpours, 1,250 people were transferred to a safe area, 19 localities were cut off, and three people were rescued.

The National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (Inapa) reported that 482,182 users have been affected by 38 aqueducts being out of service completely and another two partially.

In the province of María Trinidad Sánchez, the overflow of the El Factor River in the municipality of the same name flooded 20 homes and approximately 30 in the José Francisco Peña Gómez sector due to the flooding of the Nagua River.

In Monte Plata, the communities of Serrallés, La Cuaba, and La Gina were cut off due to the flooding of the Ozama River, although everything returned to normal.

Meanwhile, in Duarte, the Caño Azul River overflowed its banks, cutting off the community of Los Contreras. Also, in San Francisco de Macorís, the La Cuaba River flooded, cutting off the community of San Felipe Arriba. The Guincho River also flooded, cutting off the community of Rivera.

In Espaillat, the Veragua River overflowed its banks, cutting off communication between the communities of La Hoya, Gaspar Hernández, and La Piña and flooding a house.

In this regard, parents are advised to prevent children from using rivers, streams, and creeks with high water volumes and not to use bathing resorts in the provinces under alert.
Drivers are also advised to take the necessary preventive measures due to the reduced visibility caused by the rains.

People living near risk areas, such as rivers, streams, and ravines, must be attentive and take precautions against possible flash floods.

Refrain from crossing rivers, streams, and ravines with high water volumes, and do not use spas in the provinces under alert.