Catastrophic Floods in the Dominican Republic Leave At Least 21 Dead and Displace Thousands

According to the BBC, at least 21 people have died in the Dominican Republic after heavy rain over the weekend forced thousands from their homes, officials said on Monday. The Emergency Operations Center (COE) reported that three children were among the dead and nine Dominicans died after heavy rain caused a landslide.

The wall of a highway tunnel in the capital Santo Domingo is one of the many structures damaged by the heavy rain. The COE said that the rain caused flooded homes, power outages and damaged bridges and roads. Dominican President Luis Abinader called it “the biggest rain event in the country’s history,” adding that classes in schools have been suspended until Wednesday to ensure the safety of students and teachers.

The rain, which is the result of a tropical cyclone, is expected to continue in parts of the country on Monday, according to the US Embassy. Most of the 32 provinces in the country is still under red and yellow weather alerts. Among those who lost their lives are four American citizens and three from neighboring Haiti, reported AFP news agency.