On Friday, November 17, we wrote an article with a warning message that a tropical storm is moving in the Caribbean region, which is expected to affect countries such as Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Additionally, there was a threat of this tropical storm becoming a cyclone, but that danger passed in the early hours of Saturday. Despite this, this storm caused enormous damage in some parts of the landscape. Dominicans consider this event one of the most tragic in modern history.
Official report by Emergency Operation Center (COE) states 24 dead people because of heavy rainfall caused by PCT 22 tropical storm that affected area of Dominican republic at the end of the week since 17 to 19 of November 2023. Unofficial statements from Diario Libre confirms 30 bodies, but officials have to wait for identification.
9 people died due to fallen wall in Santo Domingo's tunnel, several people died in their vehicles swept away by the floods. In total, Santo Domingo reports highest number of deads- 15 of the total 30. Among those were people of Dominican and US nationality.
Floods leave 1583 houses affected (6 partially, 17 completely destroyed). 7915 people desplaced from their homes to safe areas, another 63 has been sheltered in 3 shelters. Recent information indicates 29 communities being cut off throughout the national territory.
Electricity-distribution company at the south (Edesur) reported 15 impacted circuits, which left around 151 000 people without electricity. In addition, COE reports that approximately 1.8 million people have problems with supply of pot water.
The National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (Indrhi) reported that the country's dam system received more than 235 million cubic meters (MMC) of water, which were stored in their respective reservoirs.
Combined storage capacity of country's dam system is 1,830 millions cubic meters.
To help those desperate people, few banks in the Dominican republic decided to give helping hand. Banreservas donates 100 million Dominican pesos, Banco Popular promised 60 million pesos and BHD Leon created fund of 50 million pesos to mitigate the damage. The resources will be invested in the purchase of medicines, drinking water, food, mattresses and construction materials.
As you can see from picture attached to this post, nature was pretty cruel at some part of this beautiful country.
Map depicts situation in affected areas and adhered table shows highest numbers of precipitations in milimeters. These numbers are calculated for the period of 16 to 19 November 2023.
For example, some city parts of Santo Domingo received over 480 mm (18.9 inch) of precipitation in just 3 days. Worst of all of them was Viejo Arroyo Hondo with 482,5 mm (19,1 inch), most of it registered on Saturday with 431 mm (16.97 inch).