More than 50 people were injured after the explosion on Monday at a bakery in the town of San Cristóbal, which is located a short distance west of Santo Domingo. At least 36 people are hospitalized, according to Joel Santos, minister of the presidency.
The local press reported that at least 11 people are still missing.
The explosion occurred in an area known as the “Old Market,” where crowds flock daily to buy various goods, from fruit to clothing.
The victims were a 4-month-old baby, who died of a head injury, and two adults whose bodies had 90% burns on their skin, according to a statement by Dr. Mario Lama, director of the National Health Service. Several people were taken to a Santo Domingo hospital, including patients with burns on 40% of their bodies, he said.
José Ramón Ramírez Rivera, owner of a local veterinary clinic, told reporters that one of his 15 employees is still missing.
“The office wall fell on me. I couldn’t breathe,” she recounted.
Smoke continued to blanket the downtown area on Tuesday, and Rivera urged everyone to wear masks.
“This is smoke that is mixing with chemicals,” he warned.
Rivera said he and other officials will go door-to-door to make sure people have masks and determine if they have any respiratory or skin problems. He is also expected to visit patients at a local hospital where people are still looking for their loved ones.
“The first 24 hours is very important,” he said, adding that the injuries included burns, fractures and respiratory problems.
President Luis Abinader is expected to arrive on Tuesday at the site, where authorities were still trying to extinguish a fire amid collapsed buildings and charred vehicles.
Santos said the government is launching an investigation to determine if the business where the explosion occurred was operating under proper regulations.
“Unfortunately, these catastrophes have an order of priority: save lives, save assets, ensure that the incident is extinguished, and then assess damage,” Santos said at a press conference.
San Cristóbal, the birthplace of dictator Rafael Trujillo, was the site of another tragedy nearly 23 years ago. An arms depot exploded in October 2000, killing at least two people and injuring more than two dozen, forcing authorities to evacuate thousands.
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Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
FOUNTAIN: Associated Press
