In the Dominican Republic, heavy rainfall from torrential storms over the past 48 hours has led to severe flooding, infrastructure damage, and house collapses, resulting in what President Luis Abinader termed the “largest rainfall event ever” in the nation’s history.
Authorities reported at least 21 casualties, including three children, and emphasized the connection between the intense downpours and worsening climate change. President Abinader urged acknowledgment of climate change, highlighting extensive and substantial damages, although specific figures were not provided.
The tropical depression causing the rains is expected to persist across parts of the country for the next 24 hours, according to a weather alert from the US embassy.
In a tragic incident, a wall collapsed onto several vehicles in Santo Domingo, resulting in nine fatalities. The Ministry of Public Works attributed the collapse to water infiltration into a saturated subsoil, causing the foundation of the concrete wall to give way. An investigation has been initiated. Nine additional deaths occurred in separate incidents in Santo Domingo on the same day, with others succumbing to floodwaters.
Approximately 13,000 people have been evacuated nationwide, and a majority of the country’s 32 provinces are under alert. Electricity and drinking water outages are reported in some areas.
President Abinader suspended classes until Wednesday to assess affected schools and ensure the safety of students. Among the casualties, four are US nationals, and three are from neighboring Haiti. In late August, storm Franklin caused two deaths and one missing person, leading to the evacuation of around 3,000 people in hazardous areas.
