NewsWhore
10-30-2007, 12:50 PM
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) reports that at least 11 people have died as a result of winds and torrential rainfall brought by the large and slow-moving Tropical Storm Noel. Thirteen people are reported missing. Other reports indicate that as many as 21 people may be dead, and the number of people missing may be as high as 33. COE head General Luis Luna Paulino reports that most Dominican provinces are still under red alert. A red alert warning is still in effect for the National District and the province of Santo Domingo, San Cristobal, Peravia, Azua, Barahona, Pedernales, Independencia, Baoruco and San Juan, while a yellow alert is still in affect for Santiago, Puerto Plata, Espaillat, Salcedo, Duarte (especially for Bajo Yuna), Maria Trinidad Sanchez, La Vega, Monte Plata, Monsenor Nouel, Hato Mayor (Sabana de la Mar), El Seibo (Miches), Sanchez Ramirez, Dajabon, Montecristi, Santiago Rodriguez, La Altagracia and San Pedro de Macoris. Diario Libre estimates that 3,295 people have been displaced from their homes, with about 2,855 staying with other family members and 1,010 finding refuge at government shelters. The rains, which have been falling since Friday, have been relentlessly heavy and are expected to continue through Wednesday, according to ONAMET. Newspaper reports tell of major damage to the Bani highway, as a result of the Nizao River flooding. Hoy reports that at least 20 bridges across the country have been affected by the storms leaving many cities cut off from rescue efforts. The bridges over the Yuna and Yoboa rivers in Bonao, Maimon in Piedra Blanca and Madre Vieja Sur in San Cristobal were all affected by the storm, making transit almost impossible. Residents of riverside communities were worst affected by flooding.
The storm caught the country by surprise because it developed from a tropical depression on Saturday morning to a tropical storm by 2pm on Sunday, when few people were tuned to news programs. The gusting winds and torrential rains started hitting the Dominican Republic late on Sunday evening, falling on soil that was already saturated by previous rainfall. Tropical storms outside the September peak period are rare in the Caribbean. Gloria Ceballos, director of the Weather Department (ONAMET) attributed the untimely storm to climate change.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
The storm caught the country by surprise because it developed from a tropical depression on Saturday morning to a tropical storm by 2pm on Sunday, when few people were tuned to news programs. The gusting winds and torrential rains started hitting the Dominican Republic late on Sunday evening, falling on soil that was already saturated by previous rainfall. Tropical storms outside the September peak period are rare in the Caribbean. Gloria Ceballos, director of the Weather Department (ONAMET) attributed the untimely storm to climate change.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)