It has been raining in much of the Dominican Republic. The rains are a blessing as the country and most of the Caribbean has been inmersed in a four-month-long drought.
Diario Libre reported the drought is being felt in Santo Domingo potable water sources. A light rain fell early morning on Monday, 15 May 2023. Heavy rains have fallen in Santiago and Puerto Plata, so the drought situation may have some relief in some provinces.
President Luis Abinader says the situation is critical. He said reservoir levels are at critical low levels. “The reports we have is that in terms of the level of the dams is in its worst situation in the last 40 years, which tells us that it is also a consequence of many years of deforestation,” said the President on Monday, 15 May 2023.
“We are monitoring the situation daily, and we are seeing what solutions we can take, especially for drinking water, because now there is a greater drought with a greater amount of population, which really affects us more,” said the President.
He said the government is monitoring the situation and trying to mitigate, “not to solve,” he specified this issue.
The situation might change somewhat given the recent rains. The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) increased to 18 provinces where heavy rains are expected to fall. These provinces are Montecristi, Santiago Rodríguez, Valverde, Santiago and La Vega (yellow alert) and Dajabón, Elías Piña, San Juan de la Maguana, Puerto Plata, Espaillat, Hermanas Mirabal, Duarte, Sánchez Ramírez, Monseñor Nouel, San José de Ocoa, Monte Plata, María Trinidad Sánchez have green alerts and should get some rains due to a passing trough.
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Diario Libre
N Digital
N Digital
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
16 May 2023