In the Dominican Republic, at least 21 people have lost their lives and thousands have been displaced due to heavy rainfall over the weekend. The devastation was caused by a landslide that occurred when heavy rain caused the wall of a highway tunnel in Santo Domingo to collapse. Among the victims were three children and nine people who were killed in the tragedy.
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) reported that the rain also caused flooded homes, power outages, and damage to bridges and roads. President Luis Abinader described it as “the biggest rain event in the country’s history” and suspended classes in schools until Wednesday to ensure the safety of students and teachers. The US embassy stated that the rain, which is a result of a tropical cyclone, is expected to continue in parts of the country on Monday. Most of the 32 provinces in the country are still under red and yellow weather alerts.
According to AFP news agency, among those who died were four American citizens and three from neighboring Haiti. This tragic event has left many families grieving for their loved ones and many others struggling to make ends meet due to displacement and loss of property.
