Over the weekend, heavy rain in the Dominican Republic caused at least 21 deaths and forced thousands from their homes, according to Dominican officials. The rain was so intense that it led to a landslide in Santo Domingo, resulting in nine fatalities and three deaths of children.
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) reported that the rain also caused flooded homes, power outages, and damage to bridges and roads. President Luis Abinader described it as “the biggest rain event in the country’s history” and announced that classes in schools were suspended until Wednesday to ensure the safety of students and teachers. Additionally, the US embassy stated that the rain, which is the result of a tropical cyclone, is expected to continue in parts of the country on Monday. Most of the 32 provinces in the country are still under red and yellow weather alerts.
Among those who lost their lives were four American citizens and three from neighboring Haiti, according to AFP news agency.