Authorities say the demise toll from a strong explosion close to the capital of the Dominican Republic has risen to 10 as firefighters search by smoldering rubble
ByMARTÍN ADAMES ALCÁNTARA Related Press
Firefighters put out a hearth after a strong explosion in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, Monday, Aug 14, 2023. The Monday afternoon explosion killed a minimum of three folks and injured greater than 30 others, authorities mentioned. (Jolivel Brito/Diario Libre through AP)
The Related Press
SAN CRISTOBAL, Dominican Republic — The demise toll from a strong explosion close to the capital of the Dominican Republic rose to 10 on Tuesday as firefighters searched by smoldering rubble, authorities mentioned.
Greater than 50 folks have been injured in Monday’s explosion at a bustling business middle within the metropolis of San Cristobal, positioned simply west of Santo Domingo. At the very least 36 of the injured remained hospitalized, based on Joel Santos, minister of the presidency.
Native media reported that an extra 11 individuals are lacking.
President Luis Abinader was anticipated to journey later Tuesday to the location, the place authorities have been nonetheless making an attempt to extinguish a hearth amid collapsed buildings and charred automobiles.
The nation’s 911 system mentioned the explosion occurred at a bakery within the metropolis’s middle, a bustling space generally known as “{Old} Market” the place folks purchase items starting from greens to garments. The hearth then unfold to a ironmongery store subsequent door and a close-by furnishings retailer.
Among the many victims is a four-month-old child who died from head trauma and a girl who labored at a financial institution, officers mentioned.
Santos mentioned the federal government is launching an investigation to find out whether or not the enterprise the place the explosion occurred was working beneath the right laws.
It wasn’t clear what brought on the explosion, and authorities haven’t offered a preliminary estimate of damages.
“Sadly, these catastrophes have an order of precedence: save lives, save property, be certain that the incident is extinguished after which assess harm,” Santos mentioned at a press convention.
San Cristobal, the birthplace of dictator Rafael Trujillo, was the location of one other explosion practically 23 years in the past. An arms depot exploded in October 2000, killing a minimum of two folks and injured greater than two dozen others, forcing authorities to evacuate 1000’s.
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Related Press reporter Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico contributed.
