FLOODS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: A TRAGEDY WITH DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES

On Saturday, November 18, 2023, heavy rain and flooding hit the Dominican Republic. The rainfall, which lasted for more than 24 hours, caused rivers and streams to overflow, as well as trees and light poles to fall.

The most affected areas were the capital, Santo Domingo, as well as the provinces of San Cristóbal, La Vega, Santiago and Barahona. In Santo Domingo, floods affected popular neighborhoods such as Villa Juana, Los Mina and El Almirante. In San Cristóbal, the rains caused a bridge to collapse, leaving several communities isolated. In La Vega, floods destroyed homes and crops. In Santiago, the rains caused power outages and the closure of schools and businesses. In Barahona, the floods left several people missing.

The results of the floods were devastating. At least nine people died, hundreds of homes were flooded and thousands of people had to be evacuated. The Government declared a state of emergency throughout the country.

The causes of floods

The flooding was caused by a combination of factors, including:

Heavy rains, which exceeded 200 millimeters in some areas.
The poor state of the infrastructure, which includes rivers and streams without defined channels, as well as homes built in high-risk areas.
Climate change, which is causing an increase in precipitation and the intensity of extreme weather events.

The consequences of the floods

The floods had devastating consequences for the Dominican population. The material losses were substantial, and the damage is estimated to amount to several million dollars.

The floods also had a significant impact on public health. Sewage that overflowed from rivers and streams contaminated drinking water, leading to outbreaks of diseases such as diarrhea and dysentery.

Furthermore, the floods had a significant social and economic impact. Many people lost their homes and livelihoods, leading to poverty.

Government measures

The Government of the Dominican Republic has taken a series of measures to address the emergency. These measures include:

The distribution of food and drinking water to affected people.
Repairing damaged infrastructure.
Assistance to the victims.

The Government has also announced a series of measures to prevent future floods. These measures include:

Cleaning rivers and streams.
The construction of retaining walls.
The relocation of homes built in high-risk areas.

The need for urgent action

The November 2023 floods are a reminder of the Dominican Republic's vulnerability to extreme weather events. The Dominican Government must take urgent action to prevent future floods, which could have even more devastating consequences.

Urgent actions to take include:

Investment in infrastructure resilient to climate change.
Educating the population about the risks of floods.
Planning urban development in a sustainable way.

If these actions are taken, the risk of flooding can be reduced and the Dominican population protected from this type of natural disasters.