Landslides threaten highway

[NewsWhore]

More landslides are affecting the northbound Gregorio Luperon Tourist Highway, and it is feared that if this keep happening, traffic between the provinces of Puerto Plata and Santiago will be cut off. Heavy rainfall over the last few days has led to landslides in Palo Quemado, La Cumbre de Juan Veras and other communities along this key highway. Damage to houses was also reported due to the strong current of the San Marco River in Puerto Plata where dozens of houses were flooded. Added to the problems of the landslides, more subsidence and cracks have been reported in several houses in the area, while residents call on the government to move them out. Since mid-February, according to El Caribe, at least 200 families in La Cumbre de Juan Veras are waiting to be relocated. Reporters from El Caribe toured the area and saw several points where mountainsides were sliding down as a result of last week's rains. According to the paper, the rains have also caused landslides in areas around Constanza and Jarabacoa, leading to fear among the inhabitants.

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