COE ratifies red alert in several provinces due to tropical storm Melissa

Santo Domingo. – The Emergency Operations Center (COE) of the Dominican Republic maintained red alert level in several provinces of the country this Thursday, due to the heavy rains that are expected to continue during the next few days due to Tropical Storm Melissa.

The director of the COE, Major General Juan Manuel Méndez García, reported that a red alert remains in Barahona, San Cristóbal, Santo Domingo, San José de Ocoa, San Juan, Azua, Peravia, among others, while the yellow alert extends to provinces such as La Vega, Samaná, Sánchez Ramírez, Monte Plata, Santiago and Duarte.

“It is important that the high-risk population in the alert provinces and in the rest of the country be very aware of the evolution of the terrain because the projections we have indicate a lot of rainfall this afternoon, tomorrow and probably until Saturday. The population should not let their guard down,” warned Méndez García.

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The director of the COE highlighted that the rainfall phenomena are unpredictable and that the storm’s trajectory has varied from the initial projections, which has increased the risk in some areas of the country.

“When the event turns against the ability to fly, it throws all that humid force towards our territory. Therefore, we ratify our obligation to monitor the situation and ask the institutions that are part of the COE to be very aware of the population and carry out mandatory evaluations in the provinces on red and yellow alert,” he added.

Méndez García emphasized that these evaluations are no longer preventive, but mandatory, with the aim of reducing risks and avoiding emergencies such as those that could arise from overflows, floods or landslides.

The COE authorities reiterate the call to the population to remain calm, follow official bulletins and not underestimate the situation while the rains continue nationwide.