Dominican Republic urged to assess buildings amid seismic vulnerability concerns

The Fundación para el Desarrollo y la Cooperación Internacional (FUDEC) organized a public forum on seismic alerts in the Dominican Republic. Geographer Susana Hernández Peña and engineer Leonardo Reyes Madera, director of the Oficina Nacional de Evaluación Sísmica y Vulnerabilidad de Infraestructura y Edificaciones (ONESVIE), presented the country's seismic risk, noting more than 14 fault lines, with the Northern and Enriquillo faults posing the greatest threat. The discussion, moderated by FUDEC president José Luis Morillo Frías, highlighted that the nation has relied on a seismic design code from 1979, only updated in 2011, leaving many structures potentially unsafe.

The speakers urged citizens to improve earthquake education, understand how to act during tremors, and proactively evaluate the structural safety of their homes. Historical earthquakes—from 1562 in Santiago and La Vega to the 1946 tsunami that devastated Matancitas—were cited to emphasize the need for preparedness. FUDEC invited the public to follow its citizen‑education programs for further guidance.