National earthquake evacuation drill and new technologies

The Dominican Republic conducted a National Earthquake Evacuation Drill this Tuesday to assess and improve the country's emergency response capabilities. The exercise involved a wide range of participants, including public and private institutions, educational centers, communities, and families, with activities commencing at 10:00 a.m. to test preparedness across various sectors.

President Luis Abinader led the evacuation at the National Palace, where government staff and high-ranking officials participated in the drill. Concurrently, the National Emergency and Security System 9-1-1 utilized the event to test new technological tools designed to strengthen disaster response. While the exercise served as a nationwide assessment, officials such as Santiago Governor Rosa Santos emphasized the ongoing need for public education, noting that further efforts are required to ensure the population fully understands the importance of emergency protocols.