SANTO DOMINGO - One person has died in Santo Domingo Norte, more than 900 people have been displaced, around 200 homes have been affected, a road and a bridge have been damaged, and 19 communities have been cut off. This is the toll left by Tropical Storm Melissa as of noon this Friday, which has altered weather conditions in the Dominican Republic since the middle of this week.
This was announced by the Emergency Operations Center (COE), which also reported that 26 provinces remain on alert, 12 of them in red, adding that 61 people are in shelters.
Additionally, some 56 aqueducts were affected by the heavy rains, of which 53 are totally out of service and three partially, affecting some 610,693 users.
The Santo Domingo Water and Sewerage Corporation announced the shutdown of the Isa Mana and Duey systems, affecting the municipalities of Pedro Brand, Los Alcarrizos, Santo Domingo Oeste and part of the National District, impacting some 404,978 inhabitants and 126,555 households.
The rain will continue
The Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) reported that weather conditions will remain quite deteriorated this Friday, due to the indirect effects of Tropical Storm Melissa , which will continue to generate heavy rains over the national territory, causing flooding in vulnerable areas.
The agency explained that mostly cloudy skies will persist, with heavy to torrential downpours thunderstorms and gusts of wind , mainly in provinces of the northeast, southeast, southwest and the Central mountain range, such as María Trinidad Sánchez, La Vega, Monseñor Nouel, Samaná, Duarte, Sánchez Ramírez, Hermanas Mirabal, Espaillat, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, Monte Plata, Peravia, Azua, San Juan, Independencia, Bahoruco, Pedernales, Barahona, Hato Mayor, El Seibo, La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, La Altagracia and Greater Santo Domingo, among others.
Due to the rains already recorded and those expected in the coming hours, Indomet maintains 24 provinces under weather alert and warning levels , due to the risk of urban and rural flooding, overflowing rivers, streams and ravines, as well as landslides in vulnerable areas.
The provinces of Duarte, Santiago, Independencia, Bahoruco, San Juan, Elías Piña, and María Trinidad Sánchez remain under a weather alert . provinces of La Vega, El Seibo, Sánchez Ramírez, San Pedro de Macorís, La Romana, San José de Ocoa, Santo Domingo and the National District, Peravia, Samaná, Pedernales, Azua, Barahona, Monte Plata, La Altagracia, Hato Mayor, San Cristóbal, and Monseñor Nouel remain under a weather advisory.
Maritime conditions
Along the Caribbean coast , operators of small, fragile, and medium-sized vessels are advised to remain in port due to winds and abnormal swells , as well as the possibility of heavy downpours and thunderstorms. Likewise, swimmers and beachgoers are urged to consult local authorities before engaging in water activities, given the potential for strong surf and rip currents.
On the Atlantic coast , vessels will be able to operate close to the shoreline, but without venturing out to sea.
Melissa's evolution and career path
The Dominican Meteorological Institute (Indomet) reported that at 8:00 a.m., Tropical Storm Melissa was located approximately 415 km southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and about 300 km southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. It is currently nearly stationary , moving at only 2 km/h east-southeast, with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h and higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is expected in the coming hours.
The institution reiterated to the public the importance of staying tuned to official bulletins and following the recommendations of civil protection agencies.
