Samaná, Dominican Republic faces water and power shortages threatening tourism

In Las Galeras, a rapidly growing tourist destination in the Samaná province, residents, hotels, villas and restaurants have been without reliable drinking water for weeks. The shortage has disrupted daily life and jeopardised the area's main economic activity. Local officials from the National Institute of Potable Water and Sewage (INAPA) have not presented a clear action plan, and community leaders are demanding state intervention.

A separate incident on 18 July caused a prolonged blackout in the nearby town of Las Terrenas. Luz y Fuerza de Las Terrenas said the outage resulted from an overload on the transmission line that feeds the sub‑station, exceeding its capacity amid rapid tourism and real‑estate growth. The company proposes building a 138‑kV transmission line and a new sub‑station to meet future demand.