The Dominican Republic’s Centro de Operaciones de Emergencias (COE) has lowered the number of areas under yellow alert but warned that saturated soils could still trigger new floods and landslides even if rainfall decreases. According to COE Director Colonel Erdwin Robert Olivares Lucian, four provinces remain on yellow alert: Monte Plata, San José de Ocoa, the municipal district of Nisibón in La Altagracia, and the municipality of Ramón Santana in San Pedro de Macorís. He noted that the yellow alerts in the last two provinces are focused on specific zones, while the rest of their territories remain in green. During a press briefing, Olivares Lucian explained that a vehicular restriction is still in place on the Juan Pablo II highway (also known as the Samaná road) because water levels in the Ozama and Yabacao rivers have exceeded the roadway since early morning. He said that units from the Ministry of Public Works and the Dirección General de Seguridad de Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre (Digesett) are coordinating measures to ensure driver safety. The COE director reported that there have been no fatalities or displaced persons at the time of the statement. Approximately two thousand people who were moved during the emergency have returned to their homes. Citizens who were temporarily relocated by the Civil Defense to an official shelter have also returned, leaving no displaced population. The Ministry of Housing is conducting surveys in areas where homes were flooded, and response agencies have kept their contingency plans active. Olivares Lucian urged the public to remain cautious, as new rainfall could cause sudden flooding and landslides in saturated terrain. He reiterated that emergency agencies will stay operational as long as conditions warrant and advised citizens to avoid crossing rivers, streams, and ravines with high water flow.
Article source: De Ultimo Minuto | Image credit: De Ultimo Minuto