The Embassy of the Dominican Republic recently embarked on a significant outreach initiative across southern Chile, visiting key locations such as Puerto Montt, Valdivia, and Chiloé. Led by Ambassador Juan Cohen, the delegation aimed to strengthen connections with the Dominican diaspora and reinforce the nation’s presence in the region. The tour adopted a dynamic ‘diplomacy in motion’ approach, engaging directly with the community to address their concerns, aspirations, and proposals. A central focus of the visit was the expansion of mobile consular services, designed to provide government support to Dominicans residing in remote areas. The mission also included a series of cultural and diplomatic activities, such as participation in the IV International Meeting ‘The Rivers to the World’ in Valdivia and the VI Meeting of Cultures in Puerto Montt, which showcased the Dominican Republic’s vibrant Caribbean identity. Additionally, the delegation held strategic meetings with local institutions, including the Presidential Delegation, Fosis, Sernac, and the Social Security Institute, to enhance inter-institutional cooperation and develop initiatives benefiting the Dominican community. The outreach was widely praised by attendees, with residents like Ursula Ramirez expressing gratitude for the unprecedented level of engagement and support from their diplomatic representation.
分类： world
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Belizean Students Take Shelter as Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa, a Category Five storm, has unleashed its fury on Jamaica, causing widespread devastation. The hurricane made landfall on the island’s southwest coast earlier today, bringing with it ferocious winds of 185 miles per hour and torrential rainfall estimated at 20 to 30 inches. The National Hurricane Center has warned of storm surges reaching 9 to 13 feet along the southern coastline, triggering flash floods and landslides. While the storm’s slow approach provided residents with additional preparation time, authorities are now urging everyone to remain in secure shelters. Among those seeking safety are dozens of Belizean students studying in Jamaica, many of whom have relocated to the residence of Belize’s Honorary Consul. The Jamaican government has issued an update on its relief strategies, emphasizing the need for a coordinated response. Dezmond Mckenzie, Minister of Local Government & Community Development, highlighted the challenges in delivering aid, stating that all airports remain closed and relief supplies must follow a documented, systematic process to ensure transparency and efficiency. A dedicated website has been established to streamline the coordination of international assistance.
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Jamaican Government Explains Rescue Operations Amid Cat 5 Hurricane
Jamaica is grappling with unprecedented devastation as Hurricane Melissa, the first Category 5 hurricane to directly hit the island, leaves a trail of destruction in its wake. The storm has already claimed at least seven lives across the region, with three fatalities in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. Hundreds of thousands are without power, and the Red Cross estimates that up to 1.5 million people could be affected. The Jamaican government has initiated rescue operations, but the extreme weather conditions have severely hampered efforts. Evan Thompson, Principal Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, highlighted the challenges faced by emergency responders, noting that helicopters and coastguards cannot operate in such severe weather. Despite these obstacles, rescue teams managed to evacuate an elderly couple to safety and conducted search and rescue missions in Manderville. Dezmond Mckenzie, Minister of Local Government & Community Development, emphasized the government’s proactive planning, drawing lessons from past hurricanes like Beryl and Gilbert. He commended the team working tirelessly in the command center, gathering critical data to coordinate relief efforts. As the storm continues to wreak havoc, Jamaica remains on high alert, with rescue operations poised to intensify once conditions improve.
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Belize Urges Calm Amid U.S.-Venezuela Tensions
In the wake of escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, Belize has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as a zone of peace. The situation intensified after the U.S. military destroyed four vessels suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in over a dozen casualties. Trinidad and Tobago, caught in the crossfire, has expressed support for the U.S. military presence in the region. Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño has called for calm, urging all parties to de-escalate the situation. He emphasized the importance of preserving the Caribbean as a peaceful region and highlighted Venezuela’s role as a partner within CARICOM. Briceño also condemned the recent violent actions, stressing the need to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and discussions of military intervention in Venezuela. While pressed to condemn the U.S. for its actions, Briceño maintained a balanced stance, focusing on dialogue and conflict resolution rather than assigning blame.
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Orkaan Melissa richt verwoesting aan op Jamaica; Caricom spreekt bezorgdheid uit
Hurricane Melissa, an exceptionally powerful Category 5 storm, wreaked havoc on Jamaica this Tuesday, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. With wind speeds reaching up to 300 kilometers per hour, the hurricane caused severe damage to infrastructure, power grids, and homes. Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate as large parts of the island were left without electricity and communication. Authorities reported widespread flooding in coastal areas due to storm surges and dangerously high sea levels. Local media also indicated that hospitals and emergency shelters sustained significant damage, prompting rescue services to declare a humanitarian crisis. Although Melissa has since weakened to a Category 4 hurricane, it remains extremely dangerous and is now moving toward Cuba and the Bahamas, where emergency plans have already been activated. The Caribbean Community (Caricom) expressed deep concern over the situation in Jamaica and emphasized its readiness to coordinate relief efforts. The organization warned that the impact of Melissa could be long-lasting and called for international support for recovery and rebuilding. Meteorological experts have identified Melissa as one of the most severe hurricanes to hit the Caribbean this century, with the full extent of the damage in Jamaica expected to become clearer in the coming days.
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FLASH : Alert level rises, 5 departments in red, 2 in orange
Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm, continues to wreak havoc across the Caribbean, with Haiti and neighboring nations bracing for severe impacts. As of October 29, 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that Melissa’s center was located near latitude 20.3°N and longitude 76.1°W, with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h and gusts reaching even higher speeds. The hurricane was moving westward at 12 mph (19 km/h), with a projected path that would take it across eastern Cuba, the southeastern Bahamas, and near Bermuda by late Thursday.
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Jamaica Declared Disaster Area After Hurricane Melissa Devastation
KINGSTON, Jamaica — In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic onslaught, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has officially designated Jamaica a disaster area. The Category 5 storm, which struck the island with ferocious intensity, has left a trail of widespread devastation and severe flooding in its wake.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Jamaica’s southern coast early Tuesday, unleashing relentless torrential rains and winds surpassing 175 mph. The storm later exited near Trelawny on the northern coast, leaving behind a landscape of destruction.
Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie revealed that the disaster declaration was based on recommendations from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management. Reports of extensive damage have emerged from several parishes, including Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, and Westmoreland.
McKenzie further confirmed that the hurricane’s impact has been exacerbated by severe flooding and multiple landslides, which have rendered numerous roads impassable and isolated several communities. “By late Tuesday, many areas remained cut off due to rising floodwaters and debris,” he stated.
Meteorologists predict that Hurricane Melissa’s eye will continue to move away from western Jamaica by Tuesday evening, with its trajectory shifting toward southeastern Cuba overnight. The storm’s aftermath has left the nation grappling with the immense challenge of recovery and rebuilding.
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Ceasefire Fails: Israel Orders “Powerful” Strikes on Gaza
The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has shattered as Israel initiated a series of airstrikes on Gaza following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s directive for “immediate, powerful” military action. Both sides have accused each other of breaching the US-mediated truce, escalating tensions in the region. Netanyahu’s office asserted that Hamas had violated the ceasefire agreement by returning remains that did not belong to any of the 13 hostages held in Gaza. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed that Hamas would face a “heavy price” and emphasized that Israel would retaliate “with great force.” The sound of fighter jets over Jerusalem and renewed strikes near Gaza City have plunged residents into fear and uncertainty. Hamas-run civil defence officials reported at least two fatalities and four injuries in the latest attack. Hamas condemned Israel’s escalation, claiming it would obstruct ongoing efforts to retrieve bodies and postponed the handover of another deceased hostage. The conflict traces back to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the abduction of 251 people and the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis. Since then, Israel’s military campaign has reportedly claimed over 68,500 Palestinian lives, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
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Black River Hospital Suffers Devastating Damage from Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s relentless assault on Jamaica, the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth has suffered catastrophic damage, leaving the critical healthcare facility inoperable. The Category 5 hurricane, with its record-breaking winds and storm surges, tore apart the hospital’s roof, collapsed multiple walls, and submerged the compound under floodwaters littered with debris. As conditions rapidly worsened, medical staff and patients were forced to evacuate, facing perilous rising water levels and hazardous flying debris. Authorities confirmed that the hospital, a lifeline for thousands in Jamaica’s southwest region, is now non-functional. Emergency teams are scrambling to relocate patients to nearby facilities, despite ongoing challenges such as widespread power outages and impassable roads. Hurricane Melissa continues to batter the island, unleashing destructive winds and torrential rainfall, which have caused widespread devastation. Rescue and recovery efforts are severely hindered by blocked roadways, downed power lines, and extensive flooding, leaving communities in dire need of assistance.
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Roofs Torn Off as Super Hurricane Melissa Hits Jamaica
Super Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, struck near New Hope, St Elizabeth, on Tuesday, unleashing ferocious winds reaching up to 185 mph (295 km/h). The storm caused extensive devastation across the region, with videos capturing roofs torn from buildings, including St Elizabeth Technical High School, and debris scattered everywhere. Residents in St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, and St James were advised to stay indoors, even during the brief calm of the storm’s eye. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Melissa’s central pressure of 892 millibars ties it with Hurricane Dorian (2019) and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane as the strongest Atlantic landfalls ever recorded. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management highlighted widespread structural damage, blocked roads, and downed power lines. Emergency teams are prepared to initiate rescue and recovery operations as soon as conditions permit. Melissa is projected to move off Jamaica’s north coast later Tuesday, maintaining its extreme danger as it heads toward the Cayman Islands and southern Bahamas.