SANTO DOMINGO – The rains brought by Tropical Storm Melissa have caused significant flooding in several communities and areas across the country. Environmentalist Luis Carvajal believes that the cities of the Dominican Republic have been built without considering the importance of water resources.
“Our cities have been built without the memory of water. Every day more areas have been paved over, reducing infiltration spaces. The modernization of sidewalks has modified the strips of land, affecting the natural behavior of water,” he explained.
He commented that from an environmental point of view, this has five effects: erosion of bare soil, transport of waste, conversion of water into a vehicle for garbage, reduction of absorption and increase of runoff.
Carvajal indicated that water must always have an outlet. He described it as a blessing for agriculture, but stressed the importance of knowing how to manage it. In that regard, he recommended that land-use planning be carried out by river basins and not by individual plots, in order to have a more comprehensive view of water management.
Barahona
One of the regions affected by Tropical Storm Melissa has been Barahona, where the researcher explains that this situation is related to the soil characteristics in the south of the country, where arid, hard surfaces with low absorption capacity predominate. This causes water to accumulate in unexpected areas during heavy rainfall events.
Barahona is located between two mountain ranges: the Sierra de Bahoruco and the Sierra de Neiba. This geographical configuration influences the behavior of water, which descends rapidly from the mountains. Carvajal pointed out that this dynamic can generate torrential flows in vulnerable areas, especially where there is deforestation or a lack of vegetation cover.
This information was shared on the program “El Día” on Telesistema, where the specialist also discussed the Lemba River. He indicated that this tributary has been affected by industrial activities in the area, which has altered its behavior during rains. During floods, the river experiences a significant increase in its flow, which can impact nearby communities.
Carvajal mentioned that Sabanaeta Mountain, located in San Juan, discharges water into the valley with a difference in altitude of up to 300 meters. This condition generates rapid runoff with erosive potential. He explained that this situation has contributed to several communities being under red alert, as confirmed by General Méndez on the same television program.
Finally, it was mentioned that communities like Paresito and Batelles have experienced isolation due to flooding. In these areas, the flow of rivers such as the San Rafael and other smaller tributaries has increased, contributing to the emergency situation in the region.
