The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) on Tropical Storm Laura reports that most damages were from the torrential rains that hit the country late on Saturday evening through the dawn of Sunday. The torrential rains caused overflooding of rivers and streams nationwide, the downing of trees and light poles.
Damages were most in Greater Santo Domingo, southwestern provinces of Independencia, Pedernales, Baoruco, Azua, Peravia, San Cristobal and Hato Mayor in the East. But overall, the heavy rains that came with Tropical Storm Laura caused flooding and damages nationwide with many rivers or stream overflowing their banks. Least affected were the northern areas of Samana, Puerto Plata and Montecristi.
The most rain (recorded in mm) was recorded for Barahona-Pedernales, National District and Santo Domingo province, La Romana, Azua, San Jose de Ocoa, Bonao and Pimentel, Duarte.
There were significant power outages nationwide, but efforts were restoring the service. The Ministry of Energy reported that brigades were working to restore service to more than 1.1 million users affected by the outage of 314 power circuits.
The COE will be presented its report on damages by TS Laura on Monday.
On Sunday, President Luis Abinader visited several affected areas in Greater Santo Domingo, including Los Rios in northern Santo Domingo. He committed government assistance to families whose dwellings were severely affected by the heavy rains.
President Abinader who had one week on the job on Sunday, said that it will take several years to implement plans to relocate people living in areas that are vulnerable to flooding of rivers and streams. He said on Monday he would tour the entire country by air.
The deaths were in Santo Domingo province and Pedernales.
44-year old Claritza Frías Nival died when she sought to rescue her 7-year old son who was asleep in Barrio Las Palmeras in Santo Domingo West.
The mother and son died when a wall of a next-door construction collapsed on them. First Lady Raquel Arbaje went in person to give sympathies and coordinate help.
In barrio Puerto Rico, in La Guayiga, in northern Santo Domingo, a 20-year old identified as Milton, died when a tree fell on the zinc rooftop of his home, killing him when he was asleep at around 2am.
A corporal of the Specialized Border Security Corps (Cesfront), 45-year old Carlos Ariel Paniagua drowned when crossing the river between the DR and Haiti.
The Center for Emergency Operations will give a wrap-up of the storm’s deaths and damages on Monday morning.
Read more in Spanish:
Hoy
El Caribe
Listin Diario
Ministry of Energy
DR1 Forum 2020 Hurricane Season thread
24 August 2020