Santiago.- Faced with the forecast that a 7.5 magnitude earthquake  -stronger than the one in Haiti- would affect Santiago and the Cibao region, where 70% of the structures would not withstand it, the authorities began a campaign which includes drills, distribution of instruction pamphlets and signs on the constructions erected along the active Northern fault adjacent to those cities.

“We have already signalized several buildings of this city (Santiago) including schools with their evacuation routes, points of contact and the more secure sites," said national Civil Defense sub director Francisco Arias

Not sufficient

The geologist Frank Orlando suggested that the Government evaluate public structures in Cibao, prioritizing schools and hospitals, to adapt them to resist an earthquake.

The Santiago community requested the activation of the campaign after the quake in Haiti, which left more than 150,000 dead, prompted a tsunami alert and felt at 5.1 degrees in the Dominican Republic.