标签： Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO – A massive fire engulfed the San Miguel hardware store on Independencia Avenue in the National District on Friday afternoon, triggering a massive emergency response. The blaze, first reported at approximately 5:20 p.m., required the deployment of over 150 firefighters and 15 emergency units who battled the flames for several hours.

José Luis Frómeta Herasme, Chief of the National District Fire Department, directed the complex operation across the establishment’s three levels. The presence of highly flammable materials, including paints, wood, and various combustible products, presented a significant challenge, accelerating the fire’s spread and intensifying the efforts required to contain it.

Firefighting strategies were executed through four coordinated attack points: the building’s front, both lateral sides, and the rear, which housed the most combustible inventory. Despite the severity of the fire, Chief Frómeta Herasme confirmed that the blaze was successfully confined to the structure and, crucially, that no human casualties were reported. All individuals were accounted for and had evacuated prior to the firefighters’ arrival.

As night fell, reinforcements continued to arrive at the scene, which was secured by a cordon manned by joint patrols of the National Police and the Armed Forces, supported by 911 emergency units. The dramatic incident drew large crowds of onlookers, who recorded plumes of dense black smoke billowing from the building well into the evening.

In a heartening subplot to the disaster, responders rescued three cats from within the hardware store. The felines, suffering from smoke inhalation, were immediately administered oxygen by firefighters to stabilize their condition.

Miguelina Saviñón, a neighboring business owner, recounted learning of the fire while away on a family outing, discovering the chaos through urgent phone calls and social media updates. With the extinguishing phase complete, authorities will now commence debris removal, paving the way for a formal investigation to determine the fire’s origin.

Santo Domingo – Dominican authorities have reported a tragic death toll during the initial phase of the annual Christmas road safety campaign. The Emergency Operations Center (COE) disclosed that 11 individuals lost their lives in traffic incidents occurring between December 23-25, despite ongoing preventive measures.

Official statistics reveal 118 separate traffic accidents occurred across national highways, local roads, and urban avenues during the three-day monitoring period. Motorcycles represented the most frequently involved vehicle type with 94 incidents, followed by passenger vehicles, pedestrian collisions, pickup trucks, and jeeps.

Geographical distribution of fatalities showed five deaths occurring within designated road safety checkpoints while six transpired outside monitored areas. Vehicle-specific analysis indicated motorcycle accidents accounted for six fatalities, light vehicles four fatalities, and pedestrian incidents one death.

Within the official safety perimeter, casualties included a pedestrian collision on Eastern Highway (La Romana sector) and combined motorcycle/vehicle incidents across Azua, San Cristóbal, and San Pedro de Macorís provinces. Unmonitored zones witnessed fatal accidents in Villa Altagracia, Salcedo, Jarabacoa, the Higüey-La Otra Banda highway corridor, and Bonao municipality.

Despite the tragic outcomes, comparative data indicates an 8% reduction in fatalities compared to the equivalent period in the previous year, suggesting partial effectiveness of the “Conscience for Life” preventive operation. The COE continues to implement road safety measures during the holiday season when traffic volumes traditionally peak.

SANTO DOMINGO – The Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Migration (DGM) has successfully maintained full operational capacity across all its immigration facilities throughout the Christmas period. The institution confirmed that ports, airports, border checkpoints, and administrative offices nationwide have functioned without interruption despite seasonal passenger surges.

Both domestic and international travelers have reported significantly improved experiences at the country’s major transit hubs, with many noting reduced waiting times and more streamlined arrival procedures. These operational enhancements have drawn particular praise from passengers who frequently navigate the nation’s busiest terminals during peak travel seasons.

The DGM attributes these efficiency gains to strategic technological implementations, including the optimized deployment of the E-Ticket system and reinforced data authentication protocols. Special attention has been given to streamlining documentation verification for minors traveling across borders, a measure that has substantially accelerated passenger processing at immigration control stations.

Supplementary services including Customer Service departments, the central Immigration Directorate, and the dedicated Call Center have all maintained regular operations to address heightened seasonal demand. The DGM has also ensured continuous service availability at critical border crossings in Dajabón, Elías Piña, Jimaní, and Pedernales regions.

The immigration authority reaffirmed its institutional commitment to delivering secure, orderly, and efficient migration services through continued technological innovation and operational refinements, particularly during high-volume travel periods.

The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) has inaugurated a series of strategic infrastructure enhancements on the Duarte Highway, designed to optimize traffic management and enhance passenger safety during the upcoming holiday season. This comprehensive initiative represents a significant phase in the ongoing modernization of the nation’s crucial transportation network.

Key improvements include the activation of a newly constructed operational U-turn at kilometer 110 adjacent to El Pino, alongside the completion of a six-lane expansion of the recently rebuilt Río Verde bridge. Both critical projects are situated within La Vega province, a high-traffic corridor.

In a related development, the Ministry confirmed the imminent commissioning of an additional return lane at kilometer 25 on the same highway, a site previously occupied by a toll plaza. These targeted interventions are integral components of the larger Duarte Highway expansion program, reflecting a concerted government effort to address chronic congestion points.

Official statements from the MOPC emphasize that the overarching objective of these engineering projects is to contemporize the highway’s structural integrity, bolster road safety protocols, and ultimately deliver a more streamlined, secure, and dependable journey for the multitude of motorists and commuters anticipated during peak travel periods. The upgrades are expected to significantly mitigate accident risks and improve fluidity on this essential artery.

SANTO DOMINGO – An unseasonable cold snap has descended upon the Dominican Republic, with meteorologists attributing the phenomenon to a persistent polar air mass. According to expert analysis from Jean Suriel, the unusually cool conditions are forecast to extend through the final week of 2025, marking a notably chilly conclusion to the year.

Substantial temperature drops have been recorded nationwide, with the mountainous interior experiencing the most severe conditions. The town of Constanza registered a brisk 7°C (approximately 45°F) in the early morning hours, while the high-altitude region of Valle Nuevo reported temperatures dipping below freezing. Other elevated areas consistently saw readings between 9°C and 13°C (48°F to 55°F).

The Cibao region in the north witnessed lows ranging from 13°C to 17°C (55°F to 63°F). Notably, the cooling effect has even reached the typically warmer southern coastal zones, where overnight and early morning temperatures have fallen to between 18°C and 22°C (64°F to 72°F). This pattern underscores the extensive reach of the current meteorological system, affecting populations and agriculture across diverse climatic zones of the country.

Santo Domingo’s Las Américas International Airport (AILA) is witnessing unprecedented passenger volumes during this year’s Christmas season, primarily fueled by the massive return of the Dominican diaspora. Official data reveals that between December 1st and 23rd, the airport processed more than 425,000 travelers, with approximately 70% being Dominican nationals residing overseas—particularly in the United States and European countries. Projections indicate that diaspora travelers will constitute nearly 80% of December’s total passenger traffic, highlighting this annual homecoming tradition.

Aerodom, the airport’s operator, reported exceptionally high activity during the first half of December alone, handling over 230,000 passengers and approximately 4,000 flight operations. While airport functions have maintained overall orderliness, some travelers experienced operational challenges including baggage delivery delays and confiscation of food items—particularly turkey meat—due to stringent agricultural health regulations implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture to protect domestic poultry production.

In response to the seasonal surge, authorities have significantly enhanced health and security protocols. The Ministry of Public Health has intensified epidemiological surveillance at all arrival points, conducting symptom screenings for influenza-like illnesses and establishing coordinated response protocols with the national 9-1-1 emergency system. Simultaneously, the Specialized Airport and Civil Aviation Security Corps (CESAC) has bolstered security personnel and implemented reinforced control measures across AILA and other national airports to ensure safe and efficient passenger transit during this peak travel period.