Mayor Dío Astacio activates Emergency Committee due to seismic risk in Santo Domingo Este
Faced with the need to strengthen response capacity to natural phenomena, the mayor of Santo Domingo Este, Dío Astacio, has convened the Municipal Emergency Committee with the goal of designing a comprehensive action protocol for potential earthquakes and tsunamis. This initiative seeks to establish clear preventive measures to safeguard the integrity of the municipality’s citizens.
The work session, held in the City Hall Cabinet Room, featured the strategic participation of key organizations in risk management, including the Civil Defense, the Fire Department, the Dominican Republic Navy, the Ministry of Public Health, the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), and the National Police.
Technical actions and risk scenarios
The committee has defined a roadmap that includes a week of intensive technical work. The main purpose is to identify the areas of greatest vulnerability, establish safe points, and determine the areas at highest risk of being affected by large-magnitude earthquakes. To this end, the specialists are analyzing three base seismic scenarios:
- Earthquakes of magnitude 7.0.
- Earthquakes of magnitude 7.5.
- Earthquakes of magnitude 8.1.
One of the critical points addressed during the meeting was the analysis of the local water infrastructure. The risk of the Ozama River and its surrounding streams acting as penetration routes in the event of a possible tsunami alert is being evaluated, which forces authorities to plan rapid and efficient evacuation routes in coastal areas.
As an initial planning hypothesis, a response period of up to 30 minutes is contemplated for certain tsunami scenarios, an estimate that will be validated by the competent technical bodies according to the origin and characteristics of the event.
Coordination and command centers
To optimize logistical capacity, the committee has established preliminary guidelines regarding key operational hubs. The Santo Domingo Este City Council has been designated as the municipal command center, while the Parque del Este will serve as the main collection and logistical support center if necessary.
This planning seeks to integrate communication, rescue, and transport tools, ensuring that the municipality has an organized and professional response to any eventuality that may compromise public safety.
