SANTO DOMINGO.- The red alert continued last night in 23 provinces and the National District, as well as 11,915 people displaced or in shelters and 2,383 houses affected, 34 of them destroyed by the strong winds and rains as Hurricane Ike buffeted the Dominican North coast.

By Sunday morning as many as 43,835 were displaced, in many cases as a precautionary measure. Last night the Civil Defense evacuated people downstream from the dam at Valdesia, and zones affected by overflowed rivers and streams.

Despite the alert, the Education Ministry announced the renewal of classes today.

Yesterday afternoon the Public Works Ministry suspended traffic across the bridge at Rio Grande, between Baní and Azua (south).

The Emergency Operations Center (COE) said several communities are cut off and that downpours still affect Santiago, Montecristi, San José de Ocoa, Sánchez Ramirez and Peravia.