(CNN Spanish) – According to a report from the Government of the Dominican Republic this Sunday, at least 21 people died from the floods and damage caused by the heavy rains of the last few hours.
In an information card, the Dominican Emergency Operations Center (COE) said that among the deceased, four were Americans, three were Haitians and the rest were Dominican citizens.
Twenty of the deaths, the COE reported, were recorded this Saturday and another this Sunday.
The heavy rains recorded in the Dominican Republic in the last few hours put 14 provinces on red alert and 12 others on yellow alert. Classes have been suspended statewide and will resume on Wednesday.
The COE warns of sudden floods, river and ravine flooding and landslides in the preliminary report published this Sunday.
The report said 33 people were rescued and nearly 8,000 were taken to safer areas. According to the company EDESUR, around 150,000 users were affected.
The incident left several vehicles trapped in an overpass in Santo Domingo. The CNN production team, along with its Noticias SIN staff, confirmed the number of victims at the scene.
Authorities recovered five bodies from a single vehicle.
The National Meteorological Office (ONAMET) continues to monitor the meteorological system that caused rainfall on the island over the weekend, producing rainfall of 431 millimeters in some areas, according to President Luis Abinader, adding that these were the heaviest rainfall ever recorded . have occurred in history.
President Abinader held a meeting with an emergency authority at the National Palace to assess the situation and take relief measures.
The President expressed condolences for the loss of life due to the heavy rains, expressed solidarity with the affected families and offered his unconditional support to “all those affected by this emergency.”
The presidential office had also issued two emergency decrees. Due to the impact of the atmospheric phenomenon currently affecting the national territory, the suspension of works in the national territory is established until Monday morning, November 20, the bulletin says.
In addition, in another decree, it declared the purchase and allocation of goods and services for humanitarian assistance, rescue, construction and reconstruction work as a state of emergency, the letter continues.