SANTO DOMINGO.- Rainfall will intensify again over the weekend in much of the national territory, due to the influence of a trough that will be generating atmospheric instability conditions, warned the director of the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (INDOMET), Gloria Ceballos.
According to the official, this new increase in rainfall will occur after several days of accumulated moisture and saturated soils, which raises the risk of flash floods, river overflows and landslides in different regions of the country.
He explained that this behavior is due to an atmospheric pattern that will remain active throughout the week, influenced by an almost stationary frontal system combined with the presence of troughs at different levels of the atmosphere.
In that regard, he indicated that, although a slight decrease in the intensity of the rains is expected between Tuesday and Wednesday, this improvement will be temporary, since a new trough is expected to arrive on Thursday, causing a progressive increase in rainfall, intensifying again towards the weekend.
Alerts remain in place across much of the country
In that context, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) reported that alert levels remain in place across much of the national territory, due to the risk of urban and rural flooding, as well as rising rivers, streams and ravines.
The agency's director, Juan Manuel Méndez, reiterated the call to the public to avoid crossing bodies of water with high volume, both on foot and in vehicles, and to no longer use resorts in the provinces under alert, due to the dangerous conditions they represent.
Méndez insisted that several of the incidents recorded in recent days have been linked to reckless actions, so he urged citizens to act responsibly and stay attentive to official bulletins issued by the competent authorities.
Recent rains cause damage in several provinces
The current scenario comes after a weekend marked by heavy rains that generated emergency situations in different parts of the country, highlighting the level of vulnerability accumulated in the face of the persistence of these phenomena.
In the province of Puerto Plata, heavy rainfall caused rivers and streams to overflow, resulting in flooding in communities such as Villa Montellano, Imbert, and Altamira, where several homes were affected. Amid this situation, the bridge over the Camú River, a key piece of infrastructure for connectivity in the area, collapsed, leaving several towns isolated.
In other areas of the north and northeast, landslides, traffic disruptions, and impacts on vulnerable communities were also reported, requiring the intervention of rescue and assistance agencies, as well as constant monitoring of high-risk areas.
A country under constant surveillance
Authorities are constantly monitoring the evolution of weather conditions, in a scenario characterized by prolonged rains that have increased the fragility of soils and infrastructure in different parts of the country.
This pattern has raised the level of risk in the face of possible sudden events, so emergency agencies insist on the importance of prevention and paying attention to official guidelines.
The call to the public remains focused on avoiding vulnerable areas, not underestimating weather conditions, and staying informed through institutional channels, while atmospheric systems that favor instability continue to affect the area.
Government assesses scenario at follow-up meeting
Given this situation, the Government held a follow-up meeting led by the President of the Republic along with representatives of emergency agencies and meteorological entities, with the aim of evaluating the behavior of the rains and strengthening the coordination of the institutional response.
During the meeting, the effects recorded in different provinces were analyzed, as well as the projections for the coming days, in a context where the authorities reiterate the need to maintain active surveillance and coordination between institutions to mitigate risks and provide timely assistance to the affected communities.
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