标签： Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo – The Frente Amplio has issued a stern call for an immediate and transparent investigation into the widespread blackout that plunged the Dominican Republic into darkness on Monday afternoon. The outage, triggered by a failure at the Electricity Transmission Company (ETED) substation in San Pedro de Macorís, cascaded into a complete shutdown of all generating plants, including Punta Catalina. This incident has once again highlighted the fragility of the nation’s power grid. Party leader María Teresa Cabrera denounced the collapse as ‘unacceptable,’ emphasizing that a single substation failure should not have the capacity to cripple the entire system. She urged authorities to act with ‘absolute transparency’ and ensure accountability for those responsible. The Frente Amplio underscored the severe economic repercussions of such blackouts, which disrupt hospitals, industries, and the daily lives of millions. The organization demanded that the Government, ETED, the Superintendency of Electricity, and the Ministry of Energy and Mines provide a clear public report and develop an emergency plan to fortify the transmission network. They argued that the incident should not be dismissed as a mere technical failure but rather seen as a symptom of deeper structural issues, including poor oversight, inadequate planning, and insufficient public investment in the national energy system.

Santo Domingo witnessed a significant milestone on Tuesday as Carolina Mejía, Mayor of the National District, officially opened the newly transformed Taíno Park in Los Cacicazgos. This revitalized public space, designed to honor the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games set for 2026, has been reimagined from a basic green area into a multifunctional community hub. The park now boasts an outdoor gym, a children’s playground, a dedicated dog park, walking paths, an amphitheater for cultural events, energy-efficient LED lighting, and a commemorative sculpture celebrating José Martí, Máximo Gómez, and Chief Hatuey—iconic figures symbolizing freedom and unity across the Antilles.

Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is grappling with a severe electricity crisis as widespread sabotage and the prolonged closure of the country’s primary hydroelectric plant have severely disrupted the power supply. The state electricity company, Électricité d’Haïti (EDH), announced on Tuesday that the crisis has been exacerbated by the unscheduled shutdown of the Péligre hydroelectric plant, which has been non-operational since June 17 when five transmission towers were sabotaged. Additionally, the private energy provider E-Power has reduced its output to less than 10 megawatts, only one-third of its usual capacity, due to technical difficulties. The combined impact of these issues has left much of the capital with limited or no electricity. EDH has acknowledged the grid’s instability, attributing it to the Péligre plant’s closure and insufficient generator capacity, which has necessitated drastic power rationing measures. The company has vowed to work ‘tirelessly’ to restore services and has called on citizens to remain patient as repair and logistical efforts continue.

Las Américas International Airport (AILA) in Santo Domingo experienced a brief disruption on Tuesday afternoon, November 11, when smoke was detected in the arrivals corridor of Terminal B. The incident prompted an immediate evacuation of passengers and staff as a precautionary measure. Emergency teams swiftly responded to the situation, identifying the source of the smoke as a malfunctioning lamp within an air conditioning unit. The smoke had circulated through the airport’s ventilation system, causing concern among travelers and personnel. Authorities confirmed that no fire had occurred, and there were no injuries or material damages reported. Once the issue was resolved, normal operations resumed without delays or disruptions to domestic or international flights. Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom), the airport’s operator, reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and commended the rapid response of its emergency teams. The incident highlighted the importance of robust safety protocols in maintaining smooth airport operations.

Boston, Massachusetts – The Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in Boston, under the leadership of Consul General Antonio Almonte, recently hosted its inaugural gathering with Dominican students enrolled in universities across the New England region. The event aimed to foster stronger connections between young Dominicans studying abroad and their consular representation, emphasizing cultural pride and academic excellence. Dozens of students from renowned institutions such as Harvard University, MIT, Northeastern University, Boston University, Berklee College of Music, and UMass Boston attended the meeting. The gathering provided a platform for networking, sharing academic and professional experiences, and celebrating Dominican heritage through music and traditional cuisine. Vice President Raquel Peña participated virtually, commending the students for their outstanding representation of the Dominican Republic and encouraging them to pursue their studies with dedication while maintaining strong ties to their cultural roots. The Consulate reiterated its commitment to supporting Dominican youth in New England through initiatives that promote academic advancement, cultural identity, and leadership development, thereby enhancing the community’s contributions to the nation’s progress.

The Dominican Republic has successfully restored its national power grid following a widespread blackout that disrupted electricity supply across the country. Energy and Mines Minister Joel Santos confirmed that by 2:20 a.m. on Wednesday, all power generation plants were operational, and the national transmission system was functioning at full capacity, meeting 96% of the country’s electricity demand. In an official statement, Santos assured that the electrical network had stabilized and was operating normally. A Failure Committee has been convened to investigate the technical causes of the outage, which reportedly originated at a substation in San Pedro de Macorís. The committee is set to meet at 10:00 a.m. to delve into the incident. During the crisis, key figures in the electricity sector, including ETED Administrator Martín Robles, CUED President Celso Marranzini, CNE Executive Director Edward Veras, Electricity Superintendent Andrés Astacio, and Vice Minister of Energy Alfonso Rodríguez, coordinated efforts from ETED’s Operations Center. Minister Santos also highlighted the active involvement of President Luis Abinader and Vice President Raquel Peña, who maintained constant communication with the control center to oversee the recovery process. Santos reiterated the government’s dedication to ensuring energy security and the reliability of the national power system, praising the collaborative efforts of all institutions involved in restoring and maintaining stability.

A massive nationwide blackout struck the Dominican Republic on Monday, causing severe disruptions to transportation and traffic systems, particularly in the capital city of Santo Domingo. The failure of the National Interconnected Electrical System (SENI) triggered the shutdown of the Paraíso and Isabela substations, which in turn cut power to Lines 1 and 2 of the Santo Domingo Metro and Line 1 of the Cable Car. The Office for the Reorganization of Transportation (OPRET) swiftly suspended services on both systems, ensuring the safe evacuation of passengers from trains and cabins. Authorities confirmed that no individuals were trapped in elevators or stations during the incident.

The blackout also disabled traffic lights at critical intersections in the National District, including Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and Rafael Augusto Sánchez avenues. This led to severe gridlock during rush hour, exacerbating the chaos. While some intersections remained operational thanks to private backup systems, the majority were left without functioning signals. In response, agents from the General Directorate of Traffic Safety and Land Transportation (Digesett) were deployed to manually direct traffic and mitigate the risk of accidents.

As authorities work tirelessly to restore electricity and stabilize transportation operations, residents of Greater Santo Domingo continue to face prolonged delays and widespread traffic disruptions. The incident underscores the vulnerability of the nation’s infrastructure and the urgent need for robust contingency plans to address such emergencies in the future.