Santo Domingo.-  More than six hectares of virgin forests were leveled in the protected area Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, where 15 varieties of trees were cut down, the local Environment Ministry office confirmed on Tuesday.

It said among those arrested for the forest devastation, consisting of three large clearings along Bahoruco’s Cabo Rojo-Aceitillar highway, is the Haitian Oscar Beltrán, who was held for 48 hours but had to be released.

The second clearing detected was caused by the Dominican-Haitian Damián Encarnacion, according to Environment forest ranger Héctor Matos, whereas the third clearing detected measured almost three hectares, which Encarnacion blames on Serbio Tulio Segura, who’ll be detained for questioning.

Environment Office director Victor Ferreras said the deforestation ravaged the dense woods through which hundreds of visitors cross to get to the canyon Hoyo de Pelempito and the pine groves, and form part of Bahoruco’s vast panorama.

Ferreras said although the people accused of violating Environment Law 64-00 will be charged, they had to be released after being held for 48 hours.