Punta Cana Participates in National Earthquake Drill

Less than an hour before the Punta Cana earthquake drill, Punta Cana, Verón, and Bávaro are preparing to join the nationwide exercise coordinated by the Emergency Operations Center (COE). This drill is a crucial opportunity for the region to evaluate its readiness and response capacity in the event of a seismic event.

The drill is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, at 10:00 a.m. It aims to evaluate the response capacity of residents, businesses, institutions, and high-traffic facilities in the event of an earthquake.

General Commander of the Fire Department in the region, Colonel Miguel Ángel Álvarez, outlined key aspects of the drill and encouraged the public to treat it as a learning opportunity. “This is not done to scare people,” he said, emphasizing the educational purpose of the exercise.

Participating Locations in the Punta Cana Earthquake Drill

Key locations in the tourist zone, including Punta Cana International Airport, hotels, schools, and commercial centers, will be part of the drill. Firefighters will monitor the simulation using technical evaluation forms to assess how participants respond to emergency instructions.

According to Álvarez, between 70% and 80% of buildings in Punta Cana and Bávaro are relatively new and comply with current safety regulations. Facilities like BlueMall Punta Cana, Downtown, Pueblo Bávaro, and the Friusa area have evacuation routes, meeting points, and trained brigades.

However, Álvarez also expressed concern about older commercial centers and buildings that still lack proper evacuation routes and emergency staircases. The Fire Department is working with these establishments to ensure compliance with fire and safety regulations.

He also stressed the importance of family preparedness. Residents are advised to create a home emergency plan, identify safe exit routes, and establish a meeting point in case of evacuation. “It’s better to plan ahead than to make decisions in the middle of a crisis,” he said.