At least 10 killed after huge explosion near Dominican Republic capital

The death toll after an explosion near the Dominican Republic’s capital in a market area, has risen to at least 10, including a four-month-old baby, said President Luis Abinader, on Tuesday (August 15). The initial death toll reported by the country’s national health service was three which was later revised to 12 by the Dominican Red Cross, earlier today.

About the explosion

The explosion occurred on Monday (August 14) at a businessin San Cristobal, west of the country’s capital Santo Domingo. So far, at least 12people have been killed and another 65 people have been injured, according to the American media report.

Additionally, some 55 people were also reported to be missing, said the Dominican Red Cross in a statement. It added that three structures had completely collapsed following the blast near a shopping centre.

However, the country's president later revised the death toll to 10, with11 still missing and 37 people injured.Abinader visited the site and offered hiscondolences to the relatives of "the ten people, men, women, and children, reported dead."

He also said that they are "doing all that is humanly possible...to investigate the situation of 11 missing. There are around 37 people hospitalized."

The country’s National Health Service, on Monday, also reported the death of a four-month-old baby and two adults whose bodies were 90 per cent burned. A local bank later confirmed that one of their female employees died in the explosion, reported the Associated Press.

The cause of theexplosion remains unknown.

Response to the incident

According to the country’s emergency services, the explosion occurred at a bakery and prompted evacuations from nearby areas after black smoke rose from the city’s centre and quickly spread across several blocks. A report by the AP said that some people thought it was a bomb or an earthquake.

The Dominican Republic president expressed his concern for the situation and said he is closely following events, on Monday (August 14) during an address from the National Palace, reported by the local media.

The PM also ordered the mobilisation of 20 ambulances and 14 firetrucks, to respond to the incident, said the emergency services.

Images from the site, known as “Old Marketplace” – which is typically filled with throngs of people shopping daily for goods ranging from fruits to clothes – showed charred cars and debris from several collapsed buildings on the streets.

As of Monday night, firefighters were still battling the blaze, while the authorities asked the people to clear the area, warning that other buildings could collapse. “These buildings are very weak,” said legislator Franklin Rodriguez, as quoted by AP.

Government officials present on the site told the local media that they are also concerned about people’s health given the heavy smoke.

(With inputs from agencies)

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