Santo Domingo.– Although he Hurricane Melissa will not directly touch the Dominican territory, its extensive cloud field will continue to cause persistent rain and dangerous conditions in much of the country over the next few days, reported the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet).
The organization explained that the system maintains sustained winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour and a slow movement of 6 km/hremaining almost stationary about 400 kilometers east-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
“Melissa is an unprecedented phenomenon. In more than two decades of career, I had not observed a storm that stayed in the same spot for so long.”commented an Indomet meteorologist.
The expert warned that the soil saturation due to the accumulated rains since the beginning of the week increases the risk of flooding and landslideseven if precipitation decreases in intensity.
“Although the rains begin to subside in the southeast and east, any additional downpour will continue to generate accumulations and possible overflows,” he warned.
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According to the forecasts, the Heaviest rainfall will be recorded between Sunday and Monday in the provinces Pedernales, Barahona, Independencia, Bahoruco and San Juanwhere the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) It maintains current alerts for flooding of rivers, ravines and possible landslides.
Indomet also reported that Melissa could intensify in the coming hoursreaching category 2 this sundayand potentially category 4 or 5 at the beginning of next weekaccording to the scale Saffir-Simpson.
Due to his large size and slow progressthe phenomenon will continue to affect the national territory during the first days of next week, even as its center shifts toward Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti.
“Melissa’s cloud field covers almost the entire Caribbean. As long as it remains in the Wind Channel, the Dominican Republic will continue to be under its effects,” explained the specialist.
Indomet urged the population to follow official information and comply with the recommendations of emergency agenciesespecially those who live in flood-prone areas.
“We ask citizens to stay attentive to our bulletins. Each update will offer the necessary guidelines to face the coming days with caution,” said the meteorologist.
He Emergency Operations Center (EOC) reported that 82 people remain in shelters enabled in different provinces: two in San Juan, one in San Cristóbal, one in San Pedro de Macorís and another in the National District.
In addition, more than 1.4 million users of drinking water service They were affected due to the damage caused to several aqueducts.
The COE spokesperson, Juan Manuel Mendezindicated that A person was rescued alive in the Ozama River (Monte Plata)while eight were helped after being trapped inside their vehicles in the Luperon Avenuein the capital.
In total, more than 1,400 people were displaced or evacuatedand are reported 263 homes affectedof which one was completely destroyed. Besides, 38 communities remain incommunicadoand register damage to two bridges and a road.
Méndez reiterated the call to the population to don’t let your guard downsince the indirect effects of Hurricane Melissa They will continue to generate rain and risks during the next few days.
