The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) forecasts local downpours, isolated thunderstorms, and occasional gusts of wind for today, Wednesday, in southern, eastern, and northern provinces. Meanwhile, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) has issued an alert for 25 provinces due to the potential for river, stream, and ravine overflows, as well as flooding and landslides. Authorities predict rainfall accumulations of between 70 and 100 millimeters in the affected areas.
The provinces under red alert are San Cristóbal, Peravia, Santo Domingo and the National District; under yellow alert are Puerto Plata, Santiago, La Vega, Azua, San José de Ocoa, Monseñor Nouel, Duarte, Hermana Mirabal, Samaná, Espaillat, Monte Plata and San Pedro de Macorís; under green alert are San Juan, Independencia, Pedernales, Barahona, Sánchez Ramírez, Hato Mayor, El Seibo and La Altagracia.
Residents in vulnerable and alert areas are advised to take measures that help save lives and prevent damage to property.
The public is advised to avoid crossing rivers, streams and ravines with high water levels.
Due to strong waves and gusts of wind, operators of fragile, small and medium-sized vessels are advised to remain in port from Cabo Cabrón to Cabo San Rafael and from Cabo Cabrón to Monte Cristi, and to navigate close to the coastal perimeter without venturing out to sea; while on the Caribbean coast the swell will be in normal conditions.
Yesterday, from the early hours of the morning, heavy downpours were recorded in various parts of the country, causing urban and rural flooding and traffic problems.
It is expected that temperatures will remain cool, with the minimum ranging between 19°C and 21°C and the maximum between 28°C and 30°C.
Public works
The Ministry of Public Works yesterday appealed to the public's conscience, stating that most of the flooding "we find on avenues and main roads is due to drains being clogged by large amounts of garbage." It asked the public to cooperate with the authorities and refrain from throwing waste in public areas.
The Deputy Minister of Road Maintenance, Luis Bastardo, stated that the brigades continuously clean the drains on public roads, "and the problem we always encounter is that when the waters arrive they cannot function, due to the large accumulation of garbage that we citizens cause," he explained.
The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) reported that it reinforced its operations on Tuesday with new brigades and equipment to clean storm drains and to alleviate flooding on major avenues.
Bastardo said that these decisions are being made because the rains will continue for more than 48 hours, creating a saturated soil situation, which complicates vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
He said that MOPC brigades, made up of about 300 men, are working on structures, streets and avenues with reports of flooding, such as the overpass on 27 de Febrero Avenue, Expreso Quinto Centenario (near John F. Kennedy Avenue), Rómulo Betancourt Avenue, and Higuemota Street.
Also, Gregorio Luperón Avenue (west of the city), the San Isidro Highway (near Charles de Gaulle), Professor Juan Bosch Avenue (in Parque del Este), and in sectors of the municipality of Santo Domingo Norte (near Jacobo Majluta Avenue).
Bastardo said that these works are being carried out following instructions from Minister Deligne Ascención, "that as soon as it was announced that rain was coming due to a trough and that it would affect Greater Santo Domingo, we have been in the streets since very early in the morning, cleaning the drains and storm drains.".
