A gust of wind described by producers and agricultural authorities as a small tornado caused considerable damage to banana and plantain plantations in Valverde province, where heavy rains on Wednesday afternoon affected hundreds of acres of crops and threaten the income of farmers in the area.
The phenomenon occurred around 5:00 p.m. in the agricultural area of Palo Amarillo, near Mao, and also affected plots in Hatillo Nuevo, Hierba de Guinea and other communities dedicated to agricultural production.
One of the most significant cases corresponds to a 330-acre export banana farm, owned by producer Guarionex García , of which about 150 were affected by the force of the winds.
García explained that the plantation was in production and generated an estimated weekly income of about $10,000, so the damage represents an economic blow to the agricultural activity and to those who depend on it.
The producer described the impact of the phenomenon as devastating for a portion of his crops , which were knocked down after the passage of the strong wind accompanied by intense rainfall.
Agriculture evaluates
Technicians from the Ministry of Agriculture traveled to Palo Amarillo to inspect the affected plantations and gather information on the losses, with a view to determining possible assistance measures for the producers.
Alfonso Antonio Rodríguez, regional director of Agriculture for the Northwest Cibao, reported that the team carried out the evaluations together with the provincial director, Ernesto Castellanos, and the regional head of Production.
Rodríguez indicated that another farm, owned by farmer Arismendi Tolentino , suffered severe damage to a plantation of about 50 acres of bananas, where losses exceeded 90%, according to the preliminary assessment offered by the official.
The regional director explained that the authorities were inspecting the plots to establish the extent of the damage and determine how the Ministry of Agriculture could support the affected producers.
The surveys will be fundamental to quantifying the losses and understanding the extent of the damage to production, farmers’ income, and the farms’ capacity to recover.
Floods
The effects of the rainfall were not limited to agricultural crops. In the municipality of Mao, neighborhoods and communities reported flooding as a result of the rains that affected the region.
In Santiago, a preliminary report from Civil Defense counted at least 150 homes affected by flooding in two sectors during Wednesday night: about 100 in Hoya de Caimito and another 50 in Francisco del Rosario Sánchez.
The rains also flooded important roads in the city, including 27 de Febrero Avenue, Estrella Sadhalá Avenue and Circunvalación Sur, which made vehicular traffic difficult.
The rainfall extended to other municipalities in the province of Santiago, including Puñal, Licey al Medio, Baitoa, Tamboril, Navarrete, Villa González, San José de las Matas, Jánico and Sabana Iglesia.
On Circunvalación Sur Avenue, a woman fell into an open manhole while trying to cross during the downpour. Several passersby came to her aid and were able to help her.
The regional director of Civil Defense in Santiago , Francisco Arias, warned that some drain covers can be displaced by the force of the water, although there is also the problem of the theft of these structures.
Arias advised the public to avoid crossing flooded streets and puddles without first checking the terrain conditions, as water can hide open sewers and other obstacles.
The official also noted that prevention agencies are monitoring weather conditions and urged families living in vulnerable areas to remain attentive to official guidance.
The agricultural damage in Valverde and the floods recorded in Mao and Santiago reflect the different consequences of the rainfall in the Cibao region, from losses in commercial crops to damage to homes, mobility and the safety of citizens.