SANTO DOMINGO.- The effects of Hurricane Melissa continue to be felt in the Dominican Republic, where intense rains have caused flooding, damage to infrastructure, cuts to essential services and massive displacement of the population, according to reports from the Emergency Operations Center (COE).
As of yesterday, 3,760 people had to leave their homes, while 82 remain sheltered.
given in five shelters enabled by the authorities.
The COE reports 752 homes affected, 16 with partial damage and one completely destroyed, in addition to 48 cut-off communities.
The National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewage (INAPA) reported that 61 aqueducts were affected by the flooding of rivers and the turbidity of the water, leaving 625,546 users without service.
In Greater Santo Domingo, the Aqueduct and Sewer Corporation (CAASD) keeps the Isa Mana and Duey systems out of operation, affecting 404,978 inhabitants and 126,555 homes in Pedro Brand, Los Alcarrizos, Santo Domingo Oeste and part of the National District.
electrical damage
In the electrical system, two Edesur circuits remain damaged, affecting 2,954 customers, while another 18 circuits were preventively disconnected.
The Ministry of Public Works reported damage to roads and bridges, including the highway
Piedra Blanca–Maimón, where repair work has already begun.
Brigades of the MOPC and the Military and Police Commission (Comipol) remain deployed throughout the country
clearing roads blocked by fallen trees and landslides.
One of the most significant incidents occurred on the Baní ring road, where cracks formed at kilometer 18 due to the saturation of the terrain. Accumulations of water were also recorded on Luperón Avenue, in Santo Domingo, and the fall of trees on the Duarte highway (km 28) and in
the Eastern Highway (km 54).
Landslides
The rains caused landslides in Peravia and San José de Ocoa, affecting homes and blocking traffic. In Baní, the flooding of a ravine flooded 62 houses, while in Elías Piña a tree felled by the wind fell on a house.
In the Duarte province, the overflow of the Payabo River left the Villa Riva communities cut off
and Los Peinados, which forced the road to be closed as a precaution.
The Ministry of Defense deployed Navy and Air Force units to assist isolated communities, while the Civil Defense and the Dominican Red Cross maintain rescue operations in the most affected areas.
Impact on agriculture The National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) reported the rise of 11 rivers, damage to canals and floodgates, and the impact of some 1,000 rice fields. While the Ministry of Housing and Buildings (MIVED) registered 183 flooded homes and 12 with damage
structural.
The COE maintains red and yellow alerts in several provinces and warned about the risk in communities downstream of the Jigüey–Aguacate–Valdesia–Las Barias dam complex, where flood regulation operations are carried out.
The communities that must remain vigilant are: Jigüey: Los Mineros, Los Naranjos and El
Rosalito.
Avocado: Los Manantiales, Valentín, El Buey, Botadero and Las Avispas. Valdesia: Much Water, Mana de Yaguate, La Mancha, Las Cuevas, Juan Decena and Nizao.
Las Barias: Holy Week, Yaguate, Pizarrete and Humachón. The COE and relief agencies urged residents in these areas to prioritize personal safety and follow official advisories.
Prevention
—More rain
Although Hurricane Melissa begins to move away from the country, the Dominican Institute of Meteorology
(Indomet) warned that intermittent rains will continue for the next few hours.
Alert
30 Provinces.
On alert, although the COE reduced the red alert to four, 13 yellow and 13 on green alert
*By YAMER JAVIER/ EDILÍ ARIAS
