President Danilo Medina was in the southwest yesterday, Sunday 8 May to visit several of the areas most affected by last week’s prolonged heavy rains. President Medina was accompanied by Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo, Minister of Agriculture Angel Estevez, government Social Plan director Cesar Prieto and Supervisory Office of Public Works (OISOE) director Francisco Pagan.
According to the Emergency Operations Center (COE), 3,430 people had to leave their homes due to the heavy rains, 31 communities have been cut off and 24 provinces were on red, yellow or green alert. COE said that 10 homes were destroyed and around 500 others affected. The worst affected provinces were San Jose de Ocoa, Duarte (San Francisco de Macoris), Sanchez Ramirez (Cotui), Azua and Monte Plata.
Two highways and five bridges were also affected, including the road that links Barahona and Pedernales. This connection was restored at 11pm on Friday, 6 May 2016.
In La Romana, a 15-year old boy, Ageo Berroa Martinez, died when he fell into a sewage drain near Calle Gaston Fernandez Deligne while playing in the heavy rain.
COE reporta 2, 435 desplazados y 31 comunidades incomunicadas
http://acento.com.do/2016/ecologia/8346543-restablecen-comunicacion-vial-en-la-zona-costera-de-barahona-afectada-por-las-lluvias/
http://www.elcaribe.com.do/2016/05/08/adolescente-15-anos-ahoga-romana
