At around 10:02am, the earth shook in the Dominican Republic. Reports are that the epicenter was near the northcentral city of Pimentel, in Duarte province. No damages have been reported for the earthquake. Several replicas followed. The Seismological Institute of the state university UASD reported the intensity was 5.1 magnitude on the Richter scale.
The US Geological Survey nevertheless reported the earthquake was 4.9 magnitude and occurred 12 kms from San Francisco de Macoris in Duarte province.
Hoy newspaper coincidentally today publishes an interview with Eugenio Polanco Rivera, director of the Instituto Nacional de Sismologia of the UASD university, who says that the population is not prepared for an earthquake. He said there are too many people that live in vulnerable sectors, where housing would not bear a strong earthquake. He said the government should use the public force to evict the people that live in these high-risk areas.
http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2013/7/14/489871/Sismologia-adviertepoblacion-RD-no-esta-preparada-para-enfrentar-fuertes
http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2013/7/15/489926/COE-llama-a-mantener-calma-ante-sismos-advierte-seguiran-movimientos