Two dead, widespread damage as downpours flood north region

Santo Domingo.- Two people dead, more than 20,000 displaced, and tens of thousands of homes flooded in Cibao (north) region towns was the result of the downpours over the weekend.

Nasyeli Olivares, 12, fell into a river in Salcedo, while Bartolomé Santos, 45, also drowned when he tried to cross an irrigation canal in Nagua.

The downpours in the Cibao region since Friday also cut off 47 communities, said Civil Defense deputy national director Francisco Arias.

He said he verified the extensive flooded areas while flying in an Air Force plane and will ship aid to inhabitants of communities cut off by swollen rivers and creeks.

The preliminary report on the rains’ effects in Puerto Plata province says at least 400 houses were damaged in the flooding from rivers and streams.