Dominican Republic: Hurricane Irma heads for island September 7 /update 1

Event

Adverse weather conditions are battering the Dominican Republic as of Thursday, September 7, as Hurricane Irma, a category 5 storm, approaches the island. As of 02:00 (local time) on Thursday, Irma is located northeast of the Dominican Republic, about 225 km (140 mi) northwest of San Juan in Puerto Rico.

Heavy rainfall (between 15 and 30 cm [6 to 12 inches]), extreme winds (up to 295 km/h [183 mph]) and a strong swells (between three to six meters [10 to 20 ft]) are currently forecast through to Friday. As a result, low-lying areas are at high risk of flooding and of landslides.

As of Wednesday, 17 provinces have been placed under red alert (the maximum possible) and various airline companies multiplied their flight services in order to evacuate stranded tourists. Severe transport disruptions - including flight cancelations from Punta Cana (PUJ) and María Montez international airports (BRX) - are expected, as well as possible power outages.

Meanwhile, a red alert has been issued for the whole of neighboring Haiti.

Context

Irma strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Tuesday, September 5, north of the Lesser Antilles. Irma became the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin (outside of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico) on record as of Tuesday morning, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). Irma is currently over the Caribbean and is expected to hit numerous islands as it continues its path from the Antilles up to the United States. Initial reports confirm at least one person has died on the island of Barbuda and at least eight have died on the islands of St. Martin and St. Barthélemy, with at least 23 reported injured. The casualty toll is expected to rise.

Hurricane warnings are currently in place for Puerto Rico, the southeastern and central Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Vieques, and Culebra. A hurricane watch is in effect for Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo province and the northwestern Bahamas.

Advice

Individuals present in the Dominican Republic are advised to keep abreast of weather alerts, confirm travel reservations, avoid coastal and mountainous areas (risk of flooding and landslides), and adhere to all advice issued by the local authorities.

Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous; 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult. Finally, because floodwater may also contain wastewater or chemical products, wear boots and try to avoid any contact with the water. All items having come into contact with the water should be washed and disinfected. Dispose of any food that may have come into contact with floodwater.