A deadly explosion left at least 10 people dead and another 37 injured in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic on Monday, according to the office of Pres. Luis Abinader. Abinader’s officer also reported Tuesday that 11 more are missing following the blast.
Pres. Abinader visited the site of the explosion, located just west of the capital city Santo Domingo. He called the search for survivors “very difficult” and said that authorities were still trying to extinguish the fire amid the debris of collapsed buildings and destroyed vehicles.
Following the explosion in San Cristobal, many people throughout Latin America are living in fear about which future catastrophes could lie ahead. As local factories continue to manufacture plastics, there could be an increased risk that plants aren’t abiding by the proper safety protocols and that government officials will continue turning a blind eye. Government officials in the Dominican Republic must turn up their level of scrutiny on businesses that circumvent regulations and expose entire communities to tragedies like this tragedy.
Pres. Abinader and the government of the Dominican Republic are working tirelessly to help all of the victims impacted by Monday’s explosion in San Cristobal. Not only is the government providing resources for the people of San Cristobal, but it's also investigating the cause of the explosion to ensure no such tragedy happens again. Authorities will investigate all businesses to ensure they are compliant with safety regulations and crack down on those that aren’t following the rules.