COE declares a green alert for 10 provinces

SANTO DOMINGO. The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) declared a green alert for ten of the nation's provinces. This preventive measure is due to the possible effects that Tropical Storm Sandy could bring. Sandy is located some 480 kilometers south of Jamaica.

The provinces under alert are Barahona, Bahoruco, San Juan de la Maguana, Azua, Pedernales, Independencia, Elias Piña, Monte Cristi, Dajabon, and Santiago Rodriguez. They are instructed to be on the lookout for sudden flooding, overflowing rivers and streams, and possible landslides.

Beginning tonight, the National Meteorological Office (Onamet) is calling for an increase in rains, wind gusts and electrical storms, mostly in the Southwest part of the country and in the Central Mountains. They said that the rains from Sandy could reach 100 mm (4 inches) in the areas under alert.