DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

A national earthquake evacuation drill, mandated by President Luis Abinader and organized by the Center for Emergency Operations (COE) in coordination with the the National Office of Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (Onesvie), along with other national emergency agencies to prepare the public for potential natural disasters, saw widespread participation and notable success, including a record evacuation time at a major government building.

The drill, the fifth annual exercise directed by the COE, commenced shortly after 9:50am on Wednesday, 5 November 2025.

As reported, the effort went successfully. As a sample, the government office building “Juan Pablo Duarte,” commonly known as El Huacal, achieved a remarkable feat, completing its full evacuation in a record time of just 13 minutes. The 14-story structure accommodates over...