The Ministry of Defense (MIDE), through the Dominican Republic Navy (ARD), reported this Saturday that it evacuated 98 people from Saona Island as a preventive measure against the effects of Tropical Storm Melissa, which has caused heavy rainfall and high waves on the country’s eastern and southern coasts.
This action is part of the response measures implemented by the Ministry of Emergency Management (MIDE), in which all the capabilities of the Armed Forces have been made available to the Emergency Operations Center (COE) and civil authorities to provide support to the population and ensure their safety in the face of adverse weather conditions.
Following instructions from the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, ERD, the Navy activated its emergency protocol, mobilizing surface naval units and specialized rescue personnel, under the direction of the Commander General of the Navy, Vice Admiral Juan Bienvenido Crisóstomo Martínez, who highlighted the importance of the interoperability of the Naval Commands, the Eastern Naval Zone, the Captaincy of the Ports and the Dominican Maritime Authority, in the success of the operation.
“This swift action reflects the preparation, discipline, and commitment of our men and women of the sea, who respond with determination whenever the nation needs them,” said Vice Admiral Crisóstomo Martínez.
The evacuees were safely transported to the Port of Bayahibe, where they received assistance from relief agencies.
The Ministry of Defense reaffirmed its firm commitment to protecting the lives, safety, and well-being of its citizens, and to maintaining its air, naval, and land resources deployed to provide an immediate response to any situation arising from Storm Melissa.
