Tropical Storm Melissa prompts evacuations across Dominican provinces

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Civil Defense reported that nearly 50 people are currently being sheltered in two collective centers due to the ongoing effects of Tropical Storm Melissa. Ten individuals are housed at the Hermano Suárez Stadium in Mesopotamia, San Juan province, while 32 others are at the Sabaneta Technological Center in Santiago Rodríguez province.

Civil Defense, along with institutions such as Supérate, Economic Dining Halls, and the National Police, is providing security, food, and essential services. Teams remain on the ground monitoring vulnerable areas, issuing preventive alerts, pruning trees, and coordinating with the Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Committees (CPMR) at the provincial and municipal levels. Residents in high-risk zones are urged to stay alert and avoid unnecessary travel.

Authorities forecast heavy rainfall starting this Thursday and possibly continuing until next Friday. As a precaution, 24 provinces have been placed on alert—eight in red, thirteen in yellow, and three in green, including the National District. COE director Juan Manuel Méndez emphasized that the public should remain at home for safety while preventive measures remain in effect.