Puerto Plata to hold seismic prevention event marking 2003 earthquake anniversary

Government institutions in Puerto Plata will host a seismic prevention and response event titled ‘Puerto Plata Resiliente’ on Tuesday, September 22. The initiative is organized by the National Office of Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (Onesvie), in coordination with the Puerto Plata Governorate, the San Felipe de Puerto Plata City Council, and Civil Defense.

The event marks the 23rd anniversary of the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck the province on September 22, 2003. The program aims to strengthen public knowledge and response capabilities through practical exercises, including the ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold On’ maneuver and controlled evacuation drills.

Participants will visit four educational stations designed to assess preparedness. These include a demonstration of the P-900 seismic alert system, which shows the process from signal detection to alert emission, and a station focused on lessons learned from previous earthquakes regarding building safety, human behavior, and secondary emergencies.