A massive explosion that rocked a busy market area near the capital of the Dominican Republic on Monday has left a trail of destruction and claimed the lives of more than two dozen people, including a four-month-old baby. The death toll, which initially stood at 11, surged to 27 by Wednesday as search and rescue teams continued their grim task.
The blast occurred around 2 p.m. local time in the city of San Cristóbal, located just west of Santo Domingo. The cause of the explosion remains unknown, but officials said they suspect it was triggered by a gas leak or a faulty electrical connection.
The explosion ignited a huge fire that engulfed several buildings and vehicles in the area, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky. Firefighters battled the blaze for hours, while rescue workers searched for survivors and victims among the rubble.
Local media reported that the market area, known as the “Old Marketplace,” was crowded with people buying and selling goods ranging from vegetables to clothes. Many of the victims were vendors and customers who were trapped by the flames or hit by flying debris.
The Dominican Republic’s President Luis Abinader visited the scene of the tragedy and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He also vowed to pursue accountability and provide assistance to those affected by the disaster.
“We are going to investigate what happened and we are going to apply the full weight of the law to those responsible,” he said in a televised address.
The president also declared three days of national mourning and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims.
The explosion was one of the deadliest incidents in the Dominican Republic’s history and shocked the nation of 11 million people.