EBN- At least 21 people have died in the Dominican Republic, while more than 13,000 people were evacuated due to the heavy territorial rains in the country.
A highway tunnel wall collapsed in the capital, Santo Domingo, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people. Three children were among those killed.
More than 13,000 people were evacuated to secure areas after heavy downpours.
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) said rain caused flooding, power cuts and damaged bridges and roads.
Dominican President Luis Abinader called it the “largest rainfall event ever” in the country’s history, following torrential storms over the past 48 hours.
The Caribbean nation has been battered by torrential rainfall with footage on social media showing torrents of water flowing through streets and washing away vehicles.
A total of 21 people have lost their lives, the COE said.
Videos on social media showed rushing water dragging cars down streets and flooded ground floors of buildings.
Over 2,500 had to be rescued by protection agencies. Over 2,600 homes had been impacted by the storm, the COE said.
A majority of the nation’s 32 provinces remain under red and yellow weather alerts, it added.
President Abinader said classes have been suspended until Wednesday “in order to evaluate the schools that may have been affected.” He posted on X that he was “deeply shocked by the loss of life due to the heavy rains.” He offered “unconditional support to all those affected by this emergency”.
Four of those killed were US nationals, and three were from neighbouring Haiti, AFP news agency reported.
