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Avenida urbana anegada por lluvias intensas con vehículos y brigadistas en Santo Domingo
Imagen alusiva de una avenida anegada durante lluvias intensas, generada para ilustrar los efectos de las vaguadas. · EPM

Rains leave flooding and damage in several provinces

According to the COE, rains from two troughs left 412 people affected, 105 homes damaged and 30 communities cut off, while Inapa reported 28 aqueducts out of…

--- The context --- Rainfall caused by two troughs over the national territory has left flooding, landslides and damage to homes, roads and bridges, according to the authorities. For many families, the blow is measured in affected houses, cut-off roads and interrupted services across different provinces of the country. --- The facts --- According to the Emergency Operations Center (COE), 412 people were affected, 105 homes suffered damage, some 30 communities were cut off and six people were evacuated. According to the same agency, two roads and a bridge were also affected during this episode. According to the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (Inapa), the outage of 28 aqueducts affects 485,911 users in San Juan, Azua, Bahoruco, San Cristóbal, Monte Plata, Sánchez Ramírez and Barahona. For those households, according to Inapa, the lack of drinking water adds to the flooding already recorded. --- The positions --- According to the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), over the last five days Cabral, in Barahona, recorded 208.3 millimeters, followed by Polo, with 190, and Villa Altagracia, with 162.2. According to its records, Santo Domingo Este marked 156, Ensanche La Fe 146.1, La Agustina 146, Ciudad Juan Bosch 148.9, Enriquillo 135 and San Cristóbal 118.9. Indomet director Gloria Ceballos reported that rainfall will continue today, and according to the authorities it will continue until Friday with less intensity. According to the COE, a yellow alert remains in Pedernales, Bahoruco, Independencia, Barahona, Azua, San José de Ocoa, San Juan, Monte Plata, Santo Domingo, San Cristóbal, Peravia and the National District, with a green alert in other provinces, according to the agency. --- What remains unknown --- According to reports, in Azua the overflow of the Las Cuevas River left Arroyo Corozo, Las Guamas and Las Avispas partially cut off, and in Monte Plata flooding of the Ozama River caused the collapse of the provisional crossing between Yamasá and Don Juan, affecting residents and agricultural producers. Those reports do not yet detail when the aqueducts or that crossing will be restored. --- Unanswered questions --- When will drinking water return to the households served by the out-of-service aqueducts, according to Inapa? What support will the families whose homes suffered damage receive, according to the COE? How long will recovery take for the collapsed crossing in Monte Plata and for the cut-off communities? --- EPM analysis --- The social impact was seen in education and in the city. According to the Ministry of Education, classes remain suspended in vulnerable areas under yellow alert, and according to the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, in-person classes were suspended and teaching will continue virtually. According to the National District Mayor's Office, more than 500 brigade members were deployed, while avenues in Greater Santo Domingo recorded flooding, according to the authorities. 📌 EPM Take: In EPM's view, the emergency described by the COE, Inapa and Indomet requires looking first at the families who lost shelter, water and road access, because behind every damaged home and every cut-off community there are households needing a close and sustained response, and recovery will only be fair if drinking water, schooling and traffic return soon to every affected province, without leaving behind the most isolated communities in the interior of the country, with special attention to those who depend on those aqueducts every day to live.
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