At Least 21 Dead as Dominican Republic Faces Record Heavy Rains

Thousands of refugees have occurred
Linked to climate change

Record-breaking Rainfall in the Dominican Republic / EPA=Yonhap News

Over the weekend, the Dominican Republic, located in the Caribbean region of Central America, experienced record-breaking rainfall, resulting in at least 21 deaths and thousands of displaced individuals, according to reports from AFP and Reuters on the 20th (local time).

According to the Dominican Republic government, the persistent rainfall over the past 48 hours has caused flooding in various parts of the country, submerging houses and destroying infrastructure.

Collapses due to the rising water levels have led to numerous casualties across the country, including in the capital, Santo Domingo.

In the heart of Santo Domingo on the 19th, the collapse of a highway tunnel wall crushed several cars, resulting in nine fatalities.

Government authorities have stated that the accident occurred due to rainwater seeping into the lower soil of the road, wetting the ground and causing the concrete wall’s foundation to collapse. Authorities have ordered additional investigations into the incident.

On the same day, nine people died in separate incidents in Santo Domingo, and reportedly, the floodwaters swept away the remaining victims, causing their deaths.

Among the deceased, four were American nationals, and three were from the neighboring country of Haiti, according to AP reports.

Emergency Response and Displaced Population

The emergency response center has issued alerts in all 32 country provinces and reports that over 13,000 people have been displaced.

Electricity and water supplies have been cut off in some areas, and authorities have ordered schools nationwide to close until Wednesday.

The U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic announced that the rainfall, caused by a tropical depression, will likely continue across the country for another 24 hours.

President Abinader’s Climate Change Warning

Luis Abinader, the President of the Dominican Republic, described the situation as the “most severe rainfall incident” in the country’s history, stating that “widespread and significant damage has occurred.”

He emphasized that the current rainfall is due to climate change, urging, “If you did not believe in climate change before, start believing now.”

According to EFE, the cumulative rainfall in the southern and southwestern parts of the Dominican Republic over the weekend reached a maximum of 431mm (approximately 17 inches).

The Dominican Republic, located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, and its surroundings typically experience a hurricane season from summer to autumn each year, during which storms are frequent.

In June, heavy rainfall in the Dominican Republic and its neighboring country, Haiti, caused the deaths of more than 50 people and displaced tens of thousands.

Village Swept Away by Heavy Rain / EPA=Yonhap News