He indicated that this type of building represents a high risk in the event of an earthquake.
SANTO DOMINGO – Civil engineer Ashley Morales, a specialist in geosciences and disaster risk management in infrastructure, indicated that the Dominican Republic is highly vulnerable to earthquakes. She urged authorities to implement preventative and corrective measures to strengthen the country's structural safety.
Morales indicated that numerous public buildings were not designed to withstand seismic events. He cited as an example the Juan Pablo Duarte building, constructed in 1973, which houses more than 5,000 people and lacks a structural design adapted to earthquakes. The statements were made during an interview on the program Visión RDN.
The specialist explained that, although technical assessments have been carried out on public and private buildings, many have not been addressed due to a lack of funding. She pointed out that technical reports are insufficient if they do not translate into concrete reinforcement actions.
He warned that thousands of homes in the country have been built without technical supervision or adequate structural standards. He indicated that these types of buildings represent a risk in the event of an earthquake, especially in densely populated areas.
Seismic education and historical memory
The specialist lamented that in areas like Matancita, in María Trinidad Sánchez province, evacuation signs have been removed for fear of impacting tourism, despite it being the only municipality in the country with a historical record of a tsunami. Morales indicated that the lack of public awareness increases the risk in vulnerable communities.
He recommended developing nationwide educational campaigns, similar to those implemented for diseases like dengue fever, to ensure the entire population knows how to react to an earthquake. He also proposed creating museums in towns historically affected by earthquakes, such as Jacagua and La Vega Vieja.
The engineer proposed the need for a national seismic reinforcement law that includes tax incentives for the private sector and a structured action plan for 5, 10, and 30 years. She indicated that this measure would allow progress in protecting buildings and reducing the impact of future seismic events.
Geological faults and accumulated risk
Morales explained that the Dominican Republic is crossed by at least 14 identified seismic faults, including the Septentrional Fault and the Trinchera de los Muertos (Dead Men's Trench). He indicated that some of these areas have not ruptured for centuries, implying an accumulation of energy capable of generating large-magnitude earthquakes.
The specialist pointed out that the country lacks comprehensive national studies on seismic vulnerability. To date, research has only been conducted in Santo Domingo, Santiago, and Salcedo. “ We are in the very early stages of studying our faults. We don't know which one will trigger the next earthquake,” she concluded.
The engineer proposed the development of basic earthquake-resistant construction manuals , geared towards people who lack the resources to hire professionals. She also suggested that technical associations, universities, and the government collaborate in training vulnerable communities.
