Over the weekend, Dominican officials reported that at least 21 people have died due to heavy rain in the country. The rain caused flooding and landslides, leading to widespread damage and destruction of homes, bridges, and roads. According to COE, several people lost their lives when a landslide occurred in the capital Santo Domingo after heavy rain caused the wall of a highway tunnel to collapse.

The Emergency Operations Center (COE) also reported that power outages occurred as a result of the rain. President Luis Abinader described it as “the biggest rain event in our country’s history.” In response to this event, he suspended classes in schools until Wednesday to ensure the safety of students and teachers. The US embassy stated that the rain is expected to continue in parts of the country on Monday due to a tropical cyclone. Most of the 32 provinces in the country are still under red and yellow weather alerts.

Among those killed were four American citizens and three from neighboring Haiti, according to AFP news agency. This tragic event has affected thousands of people across the region and highlights the importance of being prepared for natural disasters such as floods and landslides.