15,000 evacuated following flooding in the Dominican Republic

Floods in Dominican Republic

Heavy rain and floods have prompted emergency authorities in the Dominican Republic to evacuated over 15,000 people, mostly in the country's north and eastern regions.

Over 70 mm of rain fell in 24 hours between 20 and 21 February in Savana de la Mar, a town in the Hato Mayor province of the Dominican Republic. Puerto Plata in the northern province Puerto Plata, saw 53.7 mm during the same period. The following day the Las Americas airport area close to Santo Domnigo saw 58.9mm of rain.

The worst affected districts are Puerto Plata, Espaillat and María Trinidad Sánchez, which as of yesterday were under red flood alert, while Santiago, Duarte, Sanchez Ramirez and Hermanas Mirabal were on yellow flood alert.

The heavy rain caused rivers to overflow. Damage has been reported to crops and roads, as well as one bridge.

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Emergency Operations Center (COE) said that 3,979 homes have been flooded or damaged and 20 completely destroyed. As of 23 February 2015, no injuries or fatalities have been reported.

At one point more than 20,000 people displaced. According to the latest Emergency Operations Center (COE) report of 22 February at 08:00 local time, that figure has since fallen to 15,475.

The disaster management agency also said around 30 locations or communities have been cut off by the flooding.