President Luis Abinader calls the storm the “largest rainfall ever” in the history of his country. The extreme rain, caused by a tropical depression, is expected to continue in parts of the country for the next 24 hours, according to a weather alert from the US Embassy in the Dominican Republic.
Of the 21 fatalities, 9 occurred after the foundation under a wall in the capital Santo Domingo collapsed due to heavy rainwater on Saturday. The concrete wall then fell on top of several cars.
The 21 deaths include four Americans and three people from neighboring Haiti.