Greater Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic under water, flooded and without power - at least 21 dead (UPDATE)

Dominican Today
Sun, 19 Nov 2023 14:07 UTC

The streets of Greater Santo Domingo are experiencing considerable urban flooding this Saturday night due to the torrential rains which have affected the country and which have left an unofficial toll of at least three people dead in events that occurred in San José de Ocoa due to the collapse of a bridge and the failure of a wall in the overpass of Máximo Gómez Avenue and 27 de Febrero.

After 9:20 p.m., different streets of the capital have puddles that hinder the circulation and the mobility of vehicles due to the large amount of rain that continues to fall.

Users have reported power outages in several areas, such as Villa Mella, Gascue, Cristo Rey, Invivienda, Mendoza, Hainamosa, Villa Carmen, and Simón Bolivar.

Several areas of Greater Santo Domingo remain in darkness.

The electricity distribution companies have announced through social networks that they have made cuts as a precaution to avoid major incidents due to the havoc left by the atmospheric phenomenon.

EDESUR reported that "as a precautionary measure, the substation at Km 10 1/2, in Santo Domingo province, has been de-energized due to the heavy rains."

#EDESURInforma | As a preventive measure, the substation at Km 10 1/2, in Santo Domingo province, has been de-energized due to heavy rains.

We continue to work hard on the cases presented.

- Edesur Dominicana (@EdesurRD) November 18, 2023

It also reported that "electric service has been restored in Azua, after the preventive interruption that was arranged due to flooding in several communities. We continue to work in other provinces to attend to the incidents caused by the rains".

Meanwhile, EDENORTE published on Saturday afternoon that personnel of "maintenance of networks of the San Francisco Sector, is on the ground responding to the different breakdowns that have arisen since yesterday afternoon and up to this moment in the provinces of Sanchez Ramirez, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Duarte, and Samana."

Eng. Odalis De León, Network Maintenance Manager of the San Francisco Sector, is on the ground responding to the different breakdowns that have arisen since yesterday afternoon and up to this moment in the provinces Sánchez Ramírez, María Trinidad Sánchez, Duarte, and Samaná. pic.twitter.com/Pa3qppkR1Zc

- Edenorte Dominicana (@EdenorteRD) November 18, 2023

EDESTE published through X (earlier Twitter this afternoon, that "we are working on restoring power service, as soon as possible, in Villa Mella after the fall of a primary line due to the effects of a possible tropical cyclone that is impacting weather conditions."

However, they informed that in several areas of "their concession there are a considerable number of circuits out of service due to the heavy downpours affecting the country. The rains make it difficult for our brigades to work for the restoration of supply".

Good evening; in our concession area, many circuits are out of service due to the heavy downpours affecting the country. The rains are making it difficult for our brigades to work to restore the supply.

- Empresa Distribuidora de Electricidad del Este (@EdeesteRD) November 19, 2023

Due to the storm, authorities are calling on the population to remain alert and report any incident through different means of contact to prevent unfortunate events.

Comment: Update November 20

The BBC reports:

At least 21 people have died in the Dominican Republic after heavy rain over the weekend which displaced thousands of residents, officials say.

An investigation has been launched after nine people died when torrential rain caused a highway tunnel wall to collapse in the capital Santo Domingo.

More than 13,000 people were evacuated to secure areas after heavy downpours

The Emergency Operations Center (COE) said rain caused flooded homes, power cuts and damaged bridges and roads.

Three children were among those killed.

Dominican President Luis Abinader called it the "largest rainfall event ever" in the country's history, following torrential storms over the past 48 hours.

The Caribbean nation has been battered by torrential rainfall with footage on social media showing torrents of water flowing through streets and washing away vehicles.

More than 2,500 people were rescued and more than 2,600 homes affected by the storm, the COE said.

It added that 45 communities were without communication as of Sunday afternoon.

The rainfall, which resulted from a tropical depression, is expected to continue across parts of the country into Monday, the US embassy said.

A majority of the nation's 32 provinces remain under red and yellow weather alerts, it added.

President Abinader said classes have been suspended until Wednesday "in order to evaluate the schools that may have been affected" and "guarantee the safety of our young people".

He posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he was "deeply shocked by the loss of life due to the heavy rains" and offered "unconditional support to all those affected by this emergency".

Four of those killed were US nationals, and three were from neighbouring Haiti, AFP news agency reported.

Related: Tropical disturbance hits west Caribbean, causing floods in Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba