Saint Dominic.-At least 2,715 homes affected, five destroyed and 3,170 people displaced is the preliminary balance of the rains recorded in the last few hours in several provinces of the country, according to the report from the Emergency Operations Center (COE).
The agency indicated that a partially affected house, a damaged bridge and 12 communities cut off due to urban and rural flooding, as well as flooding of rivers, streams and ravines, are also reported.
In Puerto Plata, the Civil Defense reported that in the Sabaneta de Yásica municipal district, some 915 people were displaced to the homes of family and friends.
Likewise, two people, a woman and her baby, were rescued after the Bajabonico River flooded and taken to a relative’s home. The flood left the Eslabón community cut off from La Piragua.
In Espaillat, the overflowing of the Batey Ginebra, Gaspar Hernández, San Juan Oeste and Joba rivers caused flooding in communities such as La Piña, El Semillero, El Samán and Jobo Arriba.
Several homes were flooded and four were destroyed in El Samán.
The undermining of the Gaspar Hernández Centro bridge was also reported, forcing the temporary closure of traffic.
In María Trinidad Sánchez, the overflowing of irrigation canals and the Del Barro, Papayo and Las Gordas rivers left hundreds of homes flooded and communities partially cut off from communication in towns such as Las Cejas, El Pescadero and Mata Bonita.
In Samaná, specifically in the Las Terrenas municipality, urban flooding was recorded that affected at least 200 homes in sectors such as Barrio Codetel, La Ceiba and Barrio Hospital.
While, in Duarte, a landslide partially affected a home and the overflowing of the Cuaba River left the Buena Vista and Pimentel communities cut off.
Given this situation, the COE maintains the provinces of Espaillat, Puerto Plata and María Trinidad Sánchez, located on the northern coast of the country, on yellow alert, while Samaná, Hermanas Mirabal, Santiago, La Vega and Montecristi are on green alert.
According to the bulletin of the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), precipitation will tend to gradually decrease due to the departure of the frontal system.
However, the moderate east/southeast wind and local effects could generate isolated showers and gusts of wind in different areas.
The authorities urged the population not to cross rivers, streams or ravines with high volumes of water, and to refrain from using spas due to the turbidity and strength of the currents.
Social assistance
Teams from the Directorate of Social Assistance and Community Food (DASAC) continue to directly assist each of the families affected by the heavy rains recorded in several provinces.
After the activation of the Emergency Committee, the director of this institution, Edgar Augusto Féliz Arbona, ordered the sending of mobile kitchens and other supplies to the provinces of Puerto Plata, Espaillat, María Trinidad Sánchez and Samaná, to guarantee immediate food assistance to the affected families.
To coordinate the assistance actions, deputy directors Francisco García, Gerardo Vásquez Gómez, José Perdomo and José Acosta were sent to each of the areas impacted by the heavy downpours. In addition, deputy director Francisco Moreta was instructed to follow up on the shipment of the mobile kitchens, while logistics is directed from the headquarters by deputy director Luz Estrella.
Recommendation
— Prevention
The COE recommended operators of small and fragile vessels remain in port on the Atlantic coast, from Cape Cabrón (Samaná) to Cape San Rafael (La Altagracia), due to abnormal winds and waves.
Flooded rice plots
Damage. More than 2,000 rice fields are under water after the intense rains recorded in the El Pozo municipal district, causing significant losses for agricultural producers in the María Trinidad Sánchez province.
The plots I-5 and I-6, located in the Cimara sector, were completely flooded due to the overflowing of the El Helechal and Nagua rivers, a situation that has directly affected dozens of farmers who depend on this production.
The producers indicated that the flooding of both tributaries caused the total flooding of the crops, generating a strong impact on the local economy and putting the financial stability of numerous families at risk. Faced with this situation, the farmers requested the prompt intervention of the competent authorities to carry out the damage assessment.
