Holiday safety operation mobilizes over 47,000 personnel starting Monday

Santo Domingo.- The Emergency Operations Center (COE) announced the start of the first phase of its holiday safety initiative, “Awareness for Life, Christmas and New Year 2024-2025,” on Monday, December 23, at 2:00 p.m. This operation aims to prevent accidents and address emergencies during the holiday season as citizens travel across the country to celebrate with family.

The first phase, running until Wednesday, December 25, at 6:00 p.m., will focus on road safety and prevention measures along major highways and roads. The initiative targets reducing traffic accidents, alcohol-related incidents, and food poisoning cases. The COE will mobilize 47,422 personnel, including medical staff, paramedics, military, police, and volunteers. Additionally, 1,243 fixed and mobile first aid stations, 580 ambulances, 16 vehicle extraction teams, 75 rescue units, 18 mobile workshops, two pre-hospital care centers, and three helicopters will be strategically deployed.

COE Director Juan Manuel Méndez García confirmed that these efforts would extend into the operation’s second phase, beginning December 30 and concluding on January 1, 2025. Complementary measures by the National Institute of Transit and Land Transport (Intrant) include regulating cargo vehicle movement nationwide. Restrictions on heavy vehicles will be enforced from December 23 at 6:00 a.m. to December 26 at 5:00 a.m., with permitted vehicles required to stay in the right lane.