The National Meteorological Office (Onamet) alerted to heavy rains and electrical storms across 22 provinces and Greater Santo Domingo.
Onamet states that there is an alert in place for those living close to rivers in Puerto Plata, Espaillat (especially Gaspar Hernández), Hato Mayor, El Seibo, María Trinidad Sánchez (Salcedo), Monseñor Nouel (Bonao), La Vega and Santiago.
Rains are also expected in Dajabón, Elías Piña, La Romana, La Altagracia (Higuey), San Pedro de Macorís, Samaná, Monte Plata, Sánchez Ramírez (Cotuí), Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís), San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, Azua, Independencia, Barahona, Bahoruco and Greater Santo Domingo.
Small boats have been told to stay close to the coast from Montecristi in the northwest to Cabo Engaño in the east due to towering waves and strong winds. Swimmers are also alerted.
At least 21 communities were cut off as a consequence of the intense recent rains that have caused increases in the level of rivers and streams.
According to the latest report from the Center for Emergency Operations (COE), the communities cut off in the province of Sánchez Ramírez are: Los Tres Pasos de Chacuey, El Duey, La Herradura, La Hondonada and Los Jobo, Batero, Cigual, Sabana Abajo and Yunita.
In the province of María Trinidad Sánchez, cut off are: Las Palmitas, Villa Alegre, Los Cerros, Guazaro, Arroyo al Medio, Los Jengibres, El Guayabito and Alemania, Vuelta Larga, Cinta Negra, El Papayo and El Higüero.
Read more in Spanish:
Hoy
Listin Diario
MetroRD
19 April 2017
