Hurricane Erin Triggers Green Alert for 11 Provinces in the Dominican Republic
Dominican authorities have raised a green alert for 11 provinces due to the impending impact of Hurricane Erin, now a category 5 storm, with sustained winds reaching 160 mph (257 km/h). The hurricane’s center is projected to pass approximately 400 kilometers north of the country, reports 24brussels.
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) announced at a press conference that all beaches along the Atlantic coast, from La Altagracia in the east to Montecristi in the northwest border with Haiti, are closed. “All boats must remain in port, and the public is prohibited from approaching the Atlantic coast due to the danger posed by this high-category phenomenon,” stated COE director Juan Manuel Méndez.
The provinces currently under alert include La Altagracia, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, Samaná, María Trinidad Sánchez, Espaillat, Puerto Plata, Montecristi, Santo Domingo, and the National District. Heavy rainfall of 75 to 100 millimeters, thunderstorms, strong gusts of wind, and dangerous waves are anticipated.
Regions further from the coast, such as Santiago, La Vega, and Monseñor Nouel, are also expected to experience lighter rain. Erin rapidly intensified into a catastrophic category 5 hurricane on Saturday, with forecasts indicating that it will remain north of the Northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
