The aftershocks being experienced in the Cibao (north-central region) continue to provoke unease among the population. The newspapers report that many schoolchildren in the Imbert area are having their lessons in al fresco, as a result of fears that a further tremor could bring down a school building. Santiago’s Cabral y Baez hospital is dealing with emergencies and pre-existing cases only, until further notice. In Puerto Plata some inhabitants chose to sleep outdoors on Thursday night. People are being advised to seek open spaces in the event of a quake, as far away as possible from buildings and other structures. Furthermore, it is dangerous to run down stairs during an earthquake, says Radhames Lora Salcedo of the regional emergency committee. The two latest reported aftershocks measured 4.2 and 4.3 on the Richter scale, according to the UASD Seismologic Institute, and occurred at 11:30pm on Wednesday and 1:00am in the early hours of Thursday morning.