The epicenter was located in the area of ??the Bahía de Ocoa (Ocoa Bay), closer to Palmar de Ocoa. This geographical point belongs to the province of Azua, representing the extreme south, bordering the province Peravia.

A community of Peralta, Azua Province, called El Pinar was cut off not El Pinar de San José de Ocoa which was originally reported. These are to different places. the roads were cleared fast and traffic resumed as usual.

http://ocoaenred.com

This video “Momentos del Temblor en Ocoa” is in Spanish but it shows some of the damage caused by the temblor de tierra as recorded by www.ocoaenred.com

More than 300 earthquakes with a magnitude between 2.0 and 4.5 degrees on the Richter scale occurred in Dominican Republic during 2011 plus an undetermined amount of microtremors that pose no danger and therefore are almost never reported.

At 10:30 pm on Thursday January 5th the Seismological Institute said it had UASD recorded 35 aftershocks. One of the strongest aftershocks occurred at 6:04 pm at San Jose de Ocoa, with a magnitude of 4.1 on the Richter scale without causing further damage.

The first preliminary evaluation conducted or the countries dams did not detect any cracks, sliding or debris on the walls of dams.

The Emergency Operations Center (COE) reported that at least 12 buildings in the San Jose de Ocoa area had cracks and cement falling because of the aftershock.

There were also rock slides that stopped traffic for a short time in the communities of El Pinar in Azua and another on the road Sánchez, in the street El Número.

It is reported that all is under control.

http://www.listindiario.com.do

The Inter-American Development Bank is going to give an initial investment of RD$30 million to get the projects started. They want to improve the Colonial city by preserving the monuments and buildings and also make more pedestrian walkways in the historical section.

They said that traffic needed to be reduced especially on Calle las Damas, the oldest street in the New World. They want to make this street a pedestrian only street only allowing the people living there and the businesses on the street to have access by vehicle. They are also discussing about making Padre Billini between Calle las Damas and Arzobispo Meriño, Arz. Merino between Arzobispo Nouel and Luperon and Calle Isabel la Catolica between Padre Billini and Las Mercedes into pedestrian only streets as well. (A map of the Colonial Zone to see where these streets are located)

If this happens many of the public transportation routes including buses, public cars and trucks, would have to be changed making the open streets more congested. They would divert these routes through Duarte. In my opinion this would still cause traffic problems.

The businesses, mainly the Hotels, are concerned that it would mean fewer tourists in the area thus affecting their businesses. Also some businesses that would have to pay for the renovation of their buildings would consider leaving the area, as it would be a really big investment to fix these buildings as required.

Now my humble opinion
*They need to focus on repairing the sidewalks and streets.
*Remove the garbage from the streets.
*Fix up the old and decaying buildings.
*Have bathroom facilities available for public use.
*Put speed bumps (policia acostado – I think that’s what they call them here) at every intersection and in the middle of streets where cars go fast. This will slow down traffic making it safer for pedestrians. Maybe these bumps would deter through traffic from using the Colonial Zone streets, as it would take so much time to pass through the streets. Maybe have different artists paint the speed bumps to make them attractive and another point of interest in our colonial city.
*Have more police on the streets at all hours, not just the daylight hours. There is needed more security in the evenings when people are walking dark streets to go out to the local establishments.
*Have streetlights on always, even when the power goes out. Maybe make them solar lights so power outages do not affect them.
*Make crossing the Malecon less dangerous. Speed bumps, police, overhead walkways at strategic spots. Whatever it takes so people can cross the street intact and sanely.
*Have activities like the outdoor concerts and events posted in strategic locations so visitors and locals can know what is happening in the parks and places of the Zone.

Any other ideas please post. Maybe someone of importance will read this and consider our opinions and ideas. Or maybe I can present these ideas myself to the big boys and gals.

School is out from Monday, 18 April to Friday, 22 April. The peak travel period is from Thursday, 21 April to Sunday, 24 April when everyone returns home.

Civil Defense / Defensa Civil has announced the rules for the Easter weekend.

Here in Dominican Republic there are many special preventive measures in place to protect the crowds that take to the roads each year. There will be 1,407 Civil Defense workers and volunteers on all the main roads, many secondary roads and places most vulnerable to make sure people use caution. Also there will be 14,070 volunteers and staff present on the beaches with many first aide stations and emergency services to help with any problem that may arise. All working to insure that Easter Weekend is safe for all.

Some of the rules:
*Heavy vehicles will be banned from 6:00 am on Holy Thursday until
6:00 am on Monday 25 April.
*Motorcyclists, pasoleros and open vehicles that carry people in the back,not following set standards will be stopped.
*Boats with outboard motors are banned
*No night time swimming
*No glass on beaches
*Beaches will be cleared out of bathers at 5:45PM
http://www.defensacivil.gov.do/operativo-semana-santa

169 Beaches and Resort Areas will be closed:
Santo Domingo and the National District / Distrito Nacional – 24
North Central Region / en la región Norcentral – 18
Santiago – 12
Provincia Espaillat – 6.
North East / Noroeste – 17
Valverde – 6
Santiago Rodríguez – 6
Monte Cristi – 3
San Pedro de Macorís – 23
Azua – 4
San Juan – 4
La Romana – 4
Nagua – 3
Monte Plata – 3
Bayaguana – 3
Sabana Grande de Boya – 3
Yamasá – 3
La Vega – 3
Samaná – 8
Barahona – 8
Monseñor Nouel – 11
Sánchez Ramírez – 6
The Provincia de Peravia – 14
http://www.hoy.com.do

To see a map with all the Provincias listed
Dominican Road Trip

Remember to try some Habichuelas con Dulce. This is a Dominican tradition in English its called Sweet Beans. It sounds a bit strange but it tastes so good