Dominican Republic closes 57 schools due to seismic risk

Authorities in the Dominican Republic have ordered the closure of 57 schools due to seismic risks identified during structural evaluations. Roberto Herrera Polanco, Director of School Infrastructure, announced that 34 of these facilities require complete demolition, while 23 require partial demolition.

The decision is part of an anti-seismic reinforcement plan presented in February, with a specific focus on areas near the Cordillera Septentrional, which sits near the country’s primary seismic fault. The Ministry of Education (Minerd) is currently evaluating the land where total demolitions are required to determine future development projects.

To ensure safety across the country, 12 companies have been contracted to assess the structural vulnerability of educational centers against potential earthquakes. Additionally, Herrera Polanco noted that work is ongoing to address buildings with ‘short column’ defects, with 42 currently under intervention and 19 already completed. The government also reported the delivery of 1,321 new classrooms, with targets to increase this number through September.