In response to the intensifying Tropical Storm Melissa, the Government has confirmed that all necessary measures are fully operational. Juan Manuel Méndez, Director of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), announced that a comprehensive review of the current restrictions on work and education schedules will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. This review will be conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Meteorology (Indomet).
Méndez emphasized that the focus will be on assessing the situation in Greater Santo Domingo, San Pedro de Macorís, and La Romana. Depending on the findings, alert levels may be reduced to facilitate a return to normalcy in these areas. The announcement was made during a press conference at the National Palace, presided over by President Luis Abinader.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Melissa continues to exhibit erratic behavior, moving at a sluggish pace of just 4 kilometers per hour. Gloria Ceballos, Director of Indomet, warned that the storm is on the verge of escalating into a hurricane. ‘Melissa has been following unpredictable trajectories,’ Ceballos noted. ‘Earlier today, it shifted east/southeast, with wind speeds increasing to 100 kilometers per hour. This indicates that the storm is organizing itself into a hurricane.’
Ceballos further projected that Melissa is expected to move northward before turning westward, potentially approaching the Haitian peninsula. Authorities remain vigilant as they monitor the storm’s progression and its potential impact on the region.