Lower Yaque under water

[NewsWhore]

The drama of flooded areas that was first seen in central Santiago de los Caballeros early last week is now happening in the lower Yaque basin, to the northwest. The towns of Mao, Guayubin and Castanuelas are struggling against the floodwaters, and thousands of acres of farmland are under water. Plantain and rice farms in the northwestern region suffered from the flooding Yaque del Norte river waters. A report from Monte Cristi says that 20,000 tareas of tomatoes were destroyed by the flooding. Two hundred banana farmers met and reported losses of RD$120 million. Reports in El Caribe indicate that 90% of the crops in the basin were damaged or wiped out by the flooding. It is estimated that as many as 10,000 families will be affected by the tomato crop loss. Listin Diario is reporting that the river has severed all traffic between Dajabon and Monte Cristi, and has cut off 20 communities in the region. A number of tiny communities like Las Matas de Santa Cruz, Walterio or Carbonera were flooded. The town of Villa Vasquez is currently housing over 5,000 refugees from the flooding.

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