Secretary general of the North Chapter of Colegio Dominicano de Ingenieros, Arquitectos y Agrimensores (Codia), the leading association of engineers and architects in the DR, William Reyna told Listin Diario that the US, France, Italy and Japan are working together on the installation in Pimentel, in the Northeast of the country, of a sophisticated seismological unit. Pimentel is right in the midst of the country’s main seismological system, the Cibao fault. The unit will carry out a campaign especially focused on the Cibao to make residents aware that a major earthquake is very likely. Training will also be provided to public service institutions such as the Civil Defense, Red Cross, Firemen, and government institutions such as Municipality, Public Works and Public Health. According to studies, the cities of Salcedo, Santiago, San Francisco de Macorís, Tenares, Moca and Mao are the most likely to be affected by a major earthquake. Leading Dominican earthquake expert, engineer Rafael Corominas Pepín says that the DR should be ready for an earthquake any day. He said that historically earthquakes have occurred at a time span of a minimum of 17 years and a maximum of 73 years. He said that the last major earthquake occurred on 4 August 1946, 52 years ago. The seismologists of the new institute will study the Milwaukee Deep.
