Description of the Event
What happened, where and when?
Between 2 and 4 June 2023, the Dominican Republic experienced numerous incidents of urban and rural flooding, river overflowing, and landslides. The National Meteorological Office (ONAMET) attributed these events to the presence of a trough at various levels of the troposphere, along with the passage of a tropical wave over the Caribbean Sea. These weather phenomena led to increased humidity and instability, resulting in heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong wind gusts. The affected areas spanned several provinces, including Azua, Barahona, Bahoruco, Dajabón, Elías Piña, Espaillat, Independencia, La Vega, Pedernales, Santiago, and Santiago Rodríguez. The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) issued nationwide alerts based on this information.
On 3 June, the EOC of the Dominican Republic issued Situation Report #3, raising the alert level for 21 provinces out of the total 31 in the country. Of this, 2 provinces were declared on red alert (Azua and Independencia), 10 provinces on yellow alert (Barahona, Bahoruco, Distrito Nacional, Elias Piña, Pedernales, Peravia, Prov. Santo Domingo, San Juan, San Jose de Ocoa, and San Cristobal) and 9 on green alert (Santiago Rodriguez, Dajabon, Montecristi, La Vega, Puerto Plata, Santiago, Monte Plata, Valverde, Monseñor Nouel). This action was taken in response to the potential risks of flooding and the overflow of rivers, streams, and ravines, as well as the possibility of landslides occurring (1).
On 6 June, the EOC announced that 15 provinces remained on alert due to the potential risk of flooding. Of this, 6 provinces were declared on yellow alert (Dajabon, Montecristi, Puerto Plata, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde) and 10 on green alert (Azua, Bahoruco, Barahona, Elias Piña, Independencia, La Vega, Pedernales, San Jose de Ocoa) (2).
By 9 June, the EOC informed that the tropical wave affecting the Dominican Republic had moved away from the country and was currently positioned southwest of Haiti. However, the National Meteorological Office (Onamet) cautioned that localized rainfall could still occur in certain areas of the country due to the prevailing instability. In light of the potential rainfall, the EOC maintained a green alert for 10 provinces (Azua, Bahoruco, Barahona, Dajabón, Distrito Nacional, Independencia, Montecristi, Pedernales, Santiago, Santo Domingo).
Initial reports from branches of the Dominican Red Cross located in both the northern and southern provinces indicated varying degrees of damage to residential homes, businesses, crops, and livestock. Additionally, as a precautionary measure, essential services such as water, telecommunications, and electricity were temporarily suspended.