SANTO DOMINGO. - The director of the Dominican Port Authority (APORDOM), Jean Luis Rodríguez, reported that Hurricane Beryl's passage through Dominican territory caused damage to three of the country's docks, while assuring that he will work to ensure that everything returns to normal as soon as possible.
“As soon as we saw the situation in the country, we began taking the necessary measures with the entire team, and then we reviewed everything. We had damage to the piers in Azua, Palenque, and Boca de Yuma. The damage to the structure here in Palenque from the high waves isn't too severe; we will address all the damage left by Beryl,” Rodríguez stated during a tour after the storm passed.
During the operation, the docks inspected were the Sabana Grande de Palenque dock in the municipality of San Cristóbal; inaugurated in January of this year, and the Boca de Yuma dock in La Altagracia province.
Jean Luis Rodríguez assured the residents of these areas, especially the fishermen, that he will regularize the damage caused by the meteorological event as soon as possible, both in its repair and in its construction, with due process of law.
When questioned by community members, the head of APORDOM assured that the Port Authority will provide all necessary support to men and women who rely on these infrastructures to make a living from fishing.
For his part, Juan Miguel de los Santos, director of engineering, stated that “some infrastructure near the dock suffered damage because the pressure and continuous heights of the strong waves brought elements dragged by the sea to the coasts, but the structure of the dock such as piles and beams withstood the impact of elements, being affected only by 10%.”.
Jean Luis Rodríguez met with the provincial governor of San Cristóbal, Pura Casilla, the mayor of Palenque, Miguel Valera and other authorities of the affected areas, with whom he coordinated the work that, from the Dominican Port Authority, will reach all the residents of those places.
Similarly, by order of the executive director of APORDOM, a team headed by the deputy director Alan Checo, went to the Boca de Yuma dock, La Altagracia, with the objective of verifying the effects left by the atmospheric phenomenon in that place.
“At Boca de Yuma, we found that the pier had detached from the wooden structure located above the main structure. The strong waves also damaged the breakwater, and a sinkhole damaged the amphitheater,” Checo stated.
APORDOM Director Jean Luis Rodríguez was accompanied by Deputy Director Joaquín Fernández, Engineering Director Juan Miguel de los Santos, representatives of the Palenque Fishermen's Association, and other collaborators and officials.
Atmospheric conditions are expected to improve in the Dominican Republic, after the rains caused by Hurricane Beryl in the South and Southwest of the country forced the displacement of people, as well as preventive evacuations, closure of avenues, among other things in different points.
