The heavy rains that fell in the Dominican Republic in the last 48 hours caused the deaths of 21 people, including three minors, authorities announced on Sunday, November 19. According to the authorities, almost all of the country’s provinces (30 of 32) were still on alert on Sunday.
Nine of the 21 deaths occurred on Saturday evening when a high wall collapsed on vehicles on Avenida 27 February, one of Santo Domingo’s main arteries. The Department of Public Works said in a press release that an “investigation” had been opened into the accident.
“Heaviest rainfall ever recorded”
Nine other people died in various accidents in Santo Domingo, including when a house wall collapsed. In the province of San José de Ocoa (south), a man was swept away by the water, while in the province of La Altagracia (east), two other people died in similar circumstances.
According to the Emergency Operations Center (COE), four of the people who died in separate incidents are American citizens and three are Haitian.
According to the COE, around 13,000 people were evacuated from risk areas. Dominican President Luis Abinader said at a news conference on Sunday that it was “the heaviest rain ever recorded in the Dominican Republic.” He announced that classes would be suspended until Wednesday to “ensure the safety of children and young people.”
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