Hurricane Tomas batters Haiti

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Santo Domingo - Hundreds of families were evacuated in the Dominican Republic due to floods caused by Hurricane Tomas.

The Emergency Operations Center said at the weekend that 8 400 people were taken to 21 official shelters, while 1 680 houses were affected by the floods.

In the Moscu district of San Cristobal province, south of the country, 173 people were evacuated and taken to a local community center, while others sought shelter with their relatives and friends.

Meanwhile, the La Ochocientas, La Barquita and Arroyo Manzano districts of Santo Domingo were flooded due to the pouring rains.

The center said that the flood alert has been extended from Bahia de Manzanillo in the northwest of the country to Puerto Plata on the Atlantic coast.

The National Meteorological Office has also forecast flooding in 29 provinces.
A bridge connecting the Mixta district in Duverge municipality in Independence province with the Neiba municipality in Bahoruco province collapsed on Friday morning.

Aqueduct and Sewage System Corporation of Santo Domingo director Freddy Perez said that as many water systems have been broken, many sectors in Santo Domingo will be without water for several days.