Attachments
Date of event
2023-11-18
What happened, where and when?
Since November 17, the Dominican Republic experienced an increase in average rainfall levels, reaching record highs. On November 18, numerous incidents began to be reported both in rural and urban areas of the country due to flooding, overflowing of rivers, streams, and creeks, and landslides, among other related events. Unprecedented rainfall was recorded, with more than 431 mm of rain in just 24 hours.
On November 18, the President of the Dominican Republic issued Decrees 584 and 585, which ordered the suspension of professional work from November 18 until November 20, and declared an emergency for the purchase and contracting of goods and services necessary for humanitarian aid, rescue, construction and reconstruction work. These decrees were issued for the entire country.
The National Meteorological Office (ONAMET) attributed these events to heavy downpours, thunderstorms, and wind gusts, associated with tropical disturbance number 22 that moved from the eastern portion of Cuba. The area affected by the phenomenon expanded to almost the entire national territory, including the provinces of Pedernales, Independencia, Bahoruco, Azua, Barahona, Elías Piña, San Juan, San José de Ocoa, Azua, Peravia, San Cristóbal, Distrito Nacional, among others.
On 19 November, the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC, by its initials in Spanish) established alerts in the 30 provinces of the Dominican Republic. Of this, 14 provinces were put on red alert, 11 provinces on yellow alert, and five others on green alert. These actions were taken in response to potential risks in terms of flooding, overflowing rivers, streams, and creeks, as well as the possibility of landslides.