Death toll at 203
On Monday, the government toll of deaths caused the Hurricane Georges had reached 203, according to the official report of the Commision of Evaluation of Damages and Needs of the Government.
The Chicago Cubs and Sammy Sosa make it to playoffs
Dominicans throughout the nation celebrated yesterday when Sammy Sosa accomplished his goal — to lead the Chicago Cubs to the Major League playoffs. The Cubs survived a San Francisco Giants’ rally and defeated these 5-3 in their home Wrigley Field in the wild-card tiebreaker. They will face Atlanta in the series that begins Wednesday in …
Fund raising television show collects RD$18 million
Dominican business and individuals committed RD$18 million during a telemarathon organized by Telecentro, Channel 13. The biggest contribution in pesos was RD$2 million made by Codetel, the principal telephone company. During the event, Spanish singer Julio Iglesias, Dominican designer Oscar de la Renta and businessman Octavio Cisneros made a US$250,000 (about RD$3,750,000). The money is …
Nation is not devastated
Christine Herridge, director of the Dominican Committee for the Mitigation of Disasters said in an interview for Listin Diario’s Sunday, 27 September issue that the country was not prepared to receive the hurricane because the people did not believe it would hit. She said, nevertheless, that the country is not devastated, as has been reported. …
Worst tragedy of Georges
The worst tragedy brought by the hurricane occurred hours after the storm had passed. They resulted from the flooding in the area of Mesopotamia, in the southwestern province of San Juan de la Maguana. According to the Instituto Nacional de Recursos Hidraulicos, the government department in charge of dams, the destruction of this area could …
Official death toll
As of the Sunday government update, some 201 persons had died in the hurricane. This toll includes 130 deaths in the South, 20 in the National District, 24 in the East and 27 in the Central Cibao. Following the passing of the hurricane, 181,908 persons were homeless, 551 injured and 75 missing. There are no …
Impoverished children still out of school
The Ministry of Education estimated that only a million of the two million public school children will be able to return to classes today. Schools were used as shelters and while many refugees have left the shelters, some shelters will need lots of work to be back into condition to receive the children. Several blackboards …
Power gradually being restored
Electricity services and potable water had been restored in 70% of all National District areas as of Sunday. The service was also back up in 64% of the nation. La Romana continues to be the most affected area. Likewise, the government reported that land communication was restored with the western provinces of Barahona and San …
US congressmen come to evaluate damages
US Congressmen Elton Calligy (California), Bill Redmond (New Mexico), Michael Billirakis (Florida) and Bob Menendez (New Jersey) arrived yesterday for a meeting with the government. The Congressmen said that it is possible to include a special aid to the DR in the new US government fiscal year budget. They visited a shelter in Santo Domingo …
Mexico sends help
President Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico announced the shipment of roofing materials to assist victims of the hurricane. A C130 of the Mexican Air Force arrived with zinc roof covering.